Comparisons of SSRI Antidepressants

It is important to be aware of the comparisons of SSRI antidepressants because there are many similarities and important differences among the various medications. Not all SSRIs are approved for the same use. For example, Paxil can be prescribed to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorder, but it is not approved for use in treating bulimia. It is also important to know which SSRIs are more likely to cause withdrawal symptoms or problems during pregnancy.

An Overview of SSRI Antidepressants

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are prescription medications used to treat depression and a number of other conditions of the brain. There are many similarities and important differences among the SSRI antidepressants. SSRI medications include:

Citalopram (Celexa^®)
Escitalopram (Lexapro^®)
Fluoxetine (Prozac^®, Sarafem^®, Selfemra™)
Fluvoxamine (Luvox^®, Luvox CR^®)
Paroxetine (Paxil^®, Pexeva^®)
Paroxetine controlled release (Paxil CR^®)
Sertraline (Zoloft^®).

Comparison of SSRI Uses

SSRI uses include the treatment of the following conditions:

Bulimia
Depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Panic disorder
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Social anxiety disorder.

Not all SSRIs are approved for the same uses. See the following table for a comparison of the approved uses of available SSRI antidepressants:

	Celexa	Lexapro	Luvox	Luvox CR	Paxil	Paxil CR	Pexeva	Prozac	Sarafem/ Selfemra	Zoloft
Bulimia								X
Depression	X	X			X	X	X	X		X
Depression in children/teens								X
GAD		X			X		X
Panic disorder					X	X	X	X		X
PMDD						X			X	X
PTSD					X
OCD			X	X	X		X	X		X
OCD in children/teens			X					X
Social anxiety disorder					X	X				X

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