Overview of Paxil 

Paxil (paroxetine) is an SSRI antidepressant that works by growing ranges of the neurotransmitter serotonin within the mind to enhance temper and emotion. 

“This selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) stops the breakdown and uptake of serotonin within the neural synapse, so the quantity of serotonin retains on growing, serving to the synapse to maintain on working and resolving signs.”

– Talkspace psychiatrist Dr. Muhammad Munir

By blocking serotonin reuptake, Paxil can enhance ranges to revive stability successfully to your psychological well being. It’s usually used to deal with situations like main depressive dysfunction, generalized anxiousness dysfunction (GAD), panic dysfunction, premenstrual dysphoric dysfunction (PMDD), and social anxiousness dysfunction.

Like every drug, there are potential uncomfortable side effects of Paxil that vary from nausea and drowsiness to sexual points. That stated, Paxil is mostly well-tolerated by most customers. It’s not unusual for folks to not expertise any extreme opposed reactions whereas taking this drug.

Overview of Prozac  

Like Paxil, Prozac (fluoxetine) is an SSRI that alters serotonin ranges within the mind to stabilize temper and enhance your psychological well being situation. Prozac is barely totally different in what it treats when in comparison with Paxil, although. Whereas each medication are widespread in treating despair and a few forms of anxiousness issues, Prozac can also be prescribed to deal with bulimia. 

“Prozac has been the dad or mum remedy for the brand new period of antidepressants”

– Talkspace psychiatrist Dr. Muhammad Munir

Model Identify	Paxil	Prozac
Generic Identify	Paroxetine	Fluoxetine
Class	Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)	Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Makes use of — FDA Authorized	Main depressive dysfunction   Obsessive-compulsive dysfunction Premenstrual dysphoric dysfunction Panic dysfunction Submit-traumatic stress dysfunction Social anxiousness dysfunction Generalized anxiousness dysfunction	Main depressive dysfunction Obsessive-compulsive dysfunction Premenstrual dysphoric dysfunction Panic dysfunction  Bulimia nervosa
Off-label Makes use of	OCD in kids  Postpartum despair Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)  Postmenopausal signs Untimely ejaculation	Generalized anxiousness dysfunction Neuropathy or nerve ache brought on by long-term diabetes  Fibromyalgia  Migraine  Untimely ejaculation
Aspect Results	Dry mouth  Headache  Adjustments in imaginative and prescient  Elevated anxiousness Nervousness  Sexual dysfunction Weight achieve from Paxil	Headache  Insomnia  Problem falling asleep  Drowsiness or fatigue  Diarrhea or constipation Adjustments in urge for food
Dosage Types/Strengths	Pill: Speedy launch in 10, 20, 30, 40 mg  Prolonged-release pill: 12.5, 25, 37.5 mg Oral answer: 10mg/5mL Capsule: 7.5 mg	Pill: 10, 20, 60 mg Generic extended-release capsule: 90 mg Oral answer: 20 mg/5mL Capsule: 10, 20, 40 mg
Security Precautions	Danger of withdrawal syndrome Serotonin syndrome Improve in suicidal ideas (extra in adolescents and other people youthful than 24) Change in blood strain	Danger of withdrawal syndrome Serotonin syndrome Improve in suicidal ideas (extra in adolescents and other people youthful than 24) Elevated threat in aged inhabitants for falls, blood strain points, and electrolyte imbalance

Key Similarities Between Paxil & Prozac

As a result of Paxil and Prozac are in the identical class of medication, they work in the identical manner by growing the mind’s serotonin degree. With each medication, the elevated serotonin helps with temper regulation. As a result of they work equally, Paxil is likely one of the extra widespread alternate options to Prozac and vice versa.

Efficacy in treating despair and anxiousness

Paxil and Prozac have each confirmed efficient for treating despair and anxiousness issues. They assist stability your feelings by enhancing serotonin’s results, which regularly ends in decreased signs. 

Is Paxil or Prozac higher for anxiousness?

Each drugs are FDA-approved to deal with varied forms of anxiousness issues — though Paxil can also be FDA-approved to deal with normal anxiousness dysfunction (GAD). In scientific trials, each medication have been discovered efficient in treating main despair that included excessive ranges of hysteria. How nicely one or the opposite works for you’ll rely on a number of elements.

Folks can react very in a different way to the identical remedy. Physique chemistry, signs, different drugs being taken, comorbid situations, and dosage can all come into play when making an attempt to find out the efficacy of a drug.

Is Paxil or Prozac higher for despair?

Each Paxil and Prozac are efficient for treating signs of despair. They’re each thought of first-line therapies for main depressive dysfunction (MDD).

Nonetheless, whereas they’re beneficial for and will be helpful in treating despair, the result might differ from individual to individual relying on elements like depth of signs and normal well being. Scientific trials discovered no vital distinction between Paxil and Prozac within the efficacy of treating main despair.

Shared uncomfortable side effects

A number of the shared widespread uncomfortable side effects of Paxil and Prozac embrace:

• Headache
• Insomnia
• Dry mouth
• Sexual dysfunction
• Upset abdomen
• Change in urge for food

Drug interactions

Like every remedy, sure drug interactions are necessary to concentrate on earlier than taking Paxil vs Prozac. Most medication can have interactions with quite a few drugs, each prescription and over-the-counter. Ensure your physician is aware of if you happen to’re taking any of the next:

• NSAIDs
• St. John’s Wort
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)
• Thiazide diuretics 
• Opioids 
• Blood thinning drugs, together with Warfarin and aspirin
• Anti-nausea drugs, together with Zofran 
• Every other drugs that enhance serotonin ranges — together with ADHD drugs like Adderall, TCAs, Buspar, and a few migraine drugs

Key Variations Between Paxil & Prozac

Though there are a lot of similarities between Paxil and Prozac, there are some key variations, too. Regardless that the medication can be utilized to deal with despair, Paxil has a wider vary of FDA-approved makes use of. One other main distinction is that there could also be fewer uncomfortable side effects of Prozac than Paxil.

Mechanism of motion

Each drugs belong to the SSRI class of medication, however they’ve totally different mechanisms of motion. Prozac blocks the reuptake transporter protein within the presynaptic terminal to successfully block the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic serotonin neurons. 

Paxil works barely in a different way — it will increase the synaptic serotonin focus by blocking the serotonin reuptake transporter. 

Authorized makes use of

FDA-approved medication have gone by means of rigorous testing and are beneficial to deal with sure situations. The FDA has accredited each Paxil and Prozac for treating despair, however Paxil can also be accredited for the therapy of generalized anxiousness dysfunction and social phobia, whereas Prozac is accredited for treating bulimia.

Particular uncomfortable side effects

As a result of folks can react in a different way to drugs, not everybody will expertise each facet impact of a drug. That stated, there are some particular reactions that is likely to be extra widespread with one drug vs. the opposite.

• Extra distinctive to Paxil: Paxil would possibly trigger extra drowsiness in some folks than Prozac. Lowered libido and weight achieve from Prozac are two uncomfortable side effects which will even be decrease than Paxil.
• Extra distinctive to Prozac: Prozac may cause insomnia attributable to its stimulating impact.

Selecting Between Paxil and Prozac

Deciding on remedy is rarely a one-size-fits-all train. Making the selection between Paxil and Prozac is dependent upon your physique chemistry, your situation and signs, your medical historical past, and the way nicely you tolerate every drug’s uncomfortable side effects and potential withdrawal signs.

Your physician or psychiatrist will play a big function in serving to you determine on the very best course of therapy to successfully cut back or get rid of your signs. They’ll think about all of the variables at play earlier than making any suggestions. 

It’s additionally important to keep in mind that the primary drug you strive might not be the final. Efficient therapy plans can take time to finalize. Keep involved along with your physician, and allow them to know if you happen to’re having any uncommon or uncomfortable uncomfortable side effects. They could regulate the dose or determine {that a} new remedy must be tried.  

Get a Skilled Analysis with Talkspace

Talkspace makes getting an expert analysis and deciding on a therapy plan easy, inexpensive, and accessible. You don’t must face the problem of figuring out which remedy is correct. Talkspace will join you with a licensed psychiatrist who will assess your signs and situation and supply a therapy they assume will finest enable you.

An correct analysis is a important first step in deciding on a drugs or drug. From there, ongoing and open communication about how nicely your therapy plan works will guarantee optimum outcomes.

Attain out to Talkspace at the moment to be taught extra about how one can get a therapy plan in place so you possibly can overcome your signs and get again to dwelling.