Prozac vs. Irenka

Prozac (fluoxetine) and Irenka (duloxetine capsule) are antidepressants used to treat major depressive disorder.

Prozac is also used to treat bulimia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Irenka is also used to treat generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Irenka and Prozac are different types of antidepressants. Irenka is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) and Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

Side effects of Prozac that are different from Irenka include upset stomach, anxiety, nervousness, heart palpitations, weight changes, cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat), decreased sex drive, impotence, and difficulty having an orgasm.

Both Irenka and Prozac may interact with alcohol, other antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), triptans for migraine, blood thinners, tryptophan, and St. John's wort.

Side effects of Irenka and Prozac that are similar include nausea, headache, dry mouth, drowsiness, sleep problems (insomnia), constipation, dizziness, and changes in appetite.

Side effects of Irenka that are different from Prozac include fatigue, diarrhea, increased sweating, and abdominal pain.

Prozac may also interact with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death (sleeping pills, narcotics, prescription cough medicines, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety or seizures), medicines to treat ADHD or narcolepsy, and medicines to treat mood disorders, thought disorders, or mental illness.

Do not stop using Prozac suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Irenka may also interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), cimetidine, fluoroquinolone antibiotics, aspirin, aluminum- and magnesium-containing antacids, theophylline, caffeine, desipramine, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, and buspirone.

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.

Common side effects of Irenka include:

• nausea,
• headache,
• dry mouth,
• drowsiness,
• fatigue,
• insomnia,
• constipation,
• dizziness,
• diarrhea,
• decreased appetite,
• increased sweating, and
• abdominal pain

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.

Irenka (duloxetine capsule) is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant used to treat major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and chronic musculoskeletal pain.

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.

Irenka may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), cimetidine, fluoroquinolone antibiotics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin, warfarin, aluminum- and magnesium-containing antacids, theophylline, caffeine, desipramine, alcohol, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, and St. John's wort. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

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.

The dose of Irenka is 40 mg/day (given as 20 mg twice daily) to 60 mg/day (given either once daily or as 30 mg twice daily) for major depressive disorder, and 60 mg/day for generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and chronic musculoskeletal pain.