Paxil vs. Prozac
- Are Paxil and Prozac the Same Thing?
- What Are Possible Side Effects of Paxil?
- What Are Possible Side Effects of Prozac?
- What is Paxil?
- What is Prozac?
- What Drugs Interact with Paxil?
- What Drugs Interact with Prozac?
- How Should Paxil Be Taken?
- How Should Prozac Be Taken?
Are Paxil and Prozac the Same Thing?
Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride) and Prozac (fluoxetine) are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants used to treat depression, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (premenstrual dysphoric disorder).
Paxil is also used to treat anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Prozac is also used to treat bulimia.
What Are Possible Side Effects of Paxil?
Common side effects of Paxil include:
- headache,
- nervousness,
- restlessness,
- drowsiness,
- dizziness,
- nasal irritation,
- sleep problems (insomnia),
- nausea,
- constipation,
- weight changes,
- decreased sex drive,
- impotence,
- difficulty having an orgasm,
- dry mouth,
- yawning, or
- ringing in the ears.
Call your doctor immediately if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts.
What Are Possible Side Effects of Prozac?
Common side effects of Prozac include:
- nausea,
- upset stomach,
- constipation,
- headaches,
- anxiety,
- sleep problems (insomnia),
- drowsiness,
- dizziness,
- nervousness,
- heart palpitations,
- loss of appetite or increase in appetite,
- weight changes,
- cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat),
- dry mouth,
- decreased sex drive,
- impotence, or
- difficulty having an orgasm.
What is Paxil?
Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant used to treat depression, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (premenstrual dysphoric disorder).
What is Prozac?
Prozac is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of nottreating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider.
Prozac is used to treat:
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Bulimia Nervosa*
- Panic Disorder*
- Depressive episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder, taken with olanzapine (Zyprexa)
- Treatment Resistant Depression (depression that has not gotten better with atleast 2 other treatments), taken with olanzapine (Zyprexa)*
*Not approved for use in children
Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting betterwith Prozac treatment.
What Drugs Interact With Paxil?
Paxil may interact with cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicines for seizures or anxiety, other antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood thinners, cimetidine, tramadol, L-tryptophan, or medicines to treat migraines.
Paxil may also interact with fentanyl, fosamprenavir, ritonavir, St. John's wort, tamoxifen, theophylline, heart medications, or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.
You may have withdrawal symptoms (such as agitation, dizziness, numbness or tingling, ringing in your ears, confusion, or behavior changes) after you stop taking Paxil.
What Drugs Interact With Prozac?
Prozac may interact with cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicine for seizures or anxiety, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), other antidepressants, blood thinners, or migraine headache medicines.
Prozac may also interact with alprazolam, clopidogrel, clozapine, flecainide, haloperidol, nebivolol, vinblastine, or seizure medications.
Withdrawal symptoms may occur if you suddenly stop taking Prozac
How Should Paxil Be Taken?
The recommended initial dose of Paxil depends on the condition being treated and ranges from 20 mg/day to 50 mg/day.
How Should Prozac Be Taken?
Take Prozac exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Prozac until it is the right dose for you.
Prozac may be taken with or without food.
If you miss a dose of Prozac, take the missed dose as soon as you remember.If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your nextdose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Prozac at the same time.
If you take too much Prozac, call your healthcare provider or poison controlcenter right away, or get emergency treatment.