Overview of Paxil 

Paxil (paroxetine) is an SSRI antidepressant that works by rising 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 rising, 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 steadiness successfully to your psychological well being. It’s typically used to deal with situations like main depressive dysfunction, generalized nervousness dysfunction (GAD), panic dysfunction, premenstrual dysphoric dysfunction (PMDD), and social nervousness dysfunction.

Like every drug, there are potential unwanted side effects of Paxil that vary from nausea and drowsiness to sexual points. That stated, Paxil is usually 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 sorts of nervousness issues, Prozac can also be prescribed to deal with bulimia. 

“Prozac has been the guardian treatment for the brand new period of antidepressants”

– Talkspace psychiatrist Dr. Muhammad Munir

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

Key Similarities Between Paxil & Prozac

As a result of Paxil and Prozac are in the identical class of medicine, they work in the identical method by rising the mind’s serotonin degree. With each medication, the elevated serotonin helps with temper regulation. As a result of they work equally, Paxil is without doubt one of the extra widespread alternate options to Prozac and vice versa.

Efficacy in treating despair and nervousness

Paxil and Prozac have each confirmed efficient for treating despair and nervousness issues. They assist steadiness your feelings by enhancing serotonin’s results, which frequently leads to diminished signs. 

Is Paxil or Prozac higher for nervousness?

Each drugs are FDA-approved to deal with varied sorts of nervousness issues — though Paxil can also be FDA-approved to deal with basic nervousness dysfunction (GAD). In medical trials, each medication had been discovered efficient in treating main despair that included excessive ranges of tension. How nicely one or the opposite works for you’ll rely upon a number of components.

Individuals can react very in another way to the identical treatment. 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-about first-line therapies for main depressive dysfunction (MDD).

Nonetheless, whereas they’re advisable for and might be useful in treating despair, the end result might differ from individual to individual relying on components like depth of signs and basic well being. Medical trials discovered no vital distinction between Paxil and Prozac within the efficacy of treating main despair.

Shared unwanted side effects

A few of the shared widespread unwanted side effects of Paxil and Prozac embody:

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

Drug interactions

Like every treatment, sure drug interactions are vital 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. Be sure that your physician is aware of in the event you’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 
• Some 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 numerous 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 unwanted side effects of Prozac than Paxil.

Mechanism of motion

Each drugs belong to the SSRI class of medicine, 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 another way — it will increase the synaptic serotonin focus by blocking the serotonin reuptake transporter. 

Accepted makes use of

FDA-approved medication have gone by rigorous testing and are advisable 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 nervousness dysfunction and social phobia, whereas Prozac is accredited for treating bulimia.

Particular unwanted side effects

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

• Extra distinctive to Paxil: Paxil would possibly trigger extra drowsiness in some folks than Prozac. Decreased libido and weight acquire from Prozac are two unwanted side effects that will even be decrease than Paxil.
• Extra distinctive to Prozac: Prozac may cause insomnia as a result of its stimulating impact.

Selecting Between Paxil and Prozac

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

Your physician or psychiatrist will play a big function in serving to you resolve on one of the best course of therapy to successfully scale back or get rid of your signs. They may 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 attempt might not be the final. Efficient therapy plans can take time to finalize. Keep involved together with your physician, and allow them to know in the event you’re having any uncommon or uncomfortable unwanted side effects. They could modify the dose or resolve {that a} new treatment must be tried.  

Get a Skilled Analysis with Talkspace

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

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

Attain out to Talkspace at this time 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 residing.