Zoloft vs. Irenka

Irenka (duloxetine capsule) and Zoloft (sertraline) are antidepressants used to treat major depressive disorder.

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

Zoloft is also used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

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

Side effects of Irenka and Zoloft that are similar include nausea, headache, dry mouth, drowsiness, fatigue/tired feeling, sleep problems (insomnia), constipation, dizziness, diarrhea, changes in appetite, and stomach/abdominal pain.

Side effects of Irenka that are different from Zoloft include increased sweating.

Side effects of Zoloft that are different from Irenka include sleepiness, nervousness, skin rash, upset stomach, abnormal ejaculation, impotence, decreased sex drive, difficulty having an orgasm, and weight loss.

Both Irenka and Zoloft may interact with alcohol, other antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cimetidine, blood thinners, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, migraine headache medicines, and St. John's wort.

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

Zoloft may also interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicines for seizures or anxiety), digoxin, linezolid, cough and cold medicines, and heart rhythm medications.

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

Common side effects of Zoloft include:

• sleepiness
• drowsiness
• tired feeling
• nervousness
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• dizziness
• nausea
• skin rash
• headache
• diarrhea
• constipation
• upset stomach
• stomach pain
• dry mouth
• changes in appetite
• abnormal ejaculation
• impotence
• decreased sex drive
• difficulty having an orgasm
• dry mouth, and
• weight loss.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Zoloft including:

• very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out;
• agitation, hallucinations, fever, overactive reflexes, tremors;
• nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling unsteady, loss of coordination;
• trouble concentrating, memory problems, weakness, fainting, seizure, shallow breathing, or breathing that stops.

Common side effects of Irenka include:

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

Zoloft is a prescription medicine used to treat a certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Zoloft belongs to a class of medicines known as SSRIs.

Zoloft is also used to treat or manage:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic Disorder
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider.

Zoloft is safe and effective in treating children with OCD age 6 to 17 years.

It is not known if Zoloft is safe and effective for use in children under 6 years of age with OCD or children with other behavior health conditions.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with Zoloft 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.

Do Not take Zoloft if you:

• take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.
• have taken an MAOI within 2 weeks of stopping Zoloft unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
• have stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
• take any other medicines that contain sertraline (such as sertraline HCl or sertraline hydrochloride).
• take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap^®) because this can cause serious heart problems.
• are allergic to sertraline or any of the ingredients in Zoloft. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Zoloft.
• take Antabuse^® (disulfiram) (if you are taking the liquid form of Zoloft) due to the alcohol content.

People who take Zoloft close in time to an MAOI may have serious or even life-threatening side effects. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms:

• high fever
• uncontrolled muscle spasms
• stiff muscles
• rapid changes in heart rate or blood
• confusion
• loss of consciousness (pass pressure out)

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 Zoloft exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Zoloft until it is the right dose for you.
• Zoloft Tablets may be taken with or without food.
• Zoloft Oral Solution may look cloudy or hazy after mixing, this is normal.
• Zoloft Oral Solution must be diluted before use:
  • Do not mix Zoloft until you are ready to take it.
  • When diluting Zoloft Oral Solution, use only water, ginger ale, lemon/lime soda, lemonade, or orange juice.
  • The oral dropper contains latex. If you are sensitive or allergic to latex, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the best way to measure your medicine.
• If you miss a dose of Zoloft, 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 next dose at the regular time.Do not take two doses of Zoloft at the same time.

If you take too much Zoloft, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

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.