What are the differences between fluoxetine and paroxetine?
Fluoxetine and paroxetine are two drugs used to treat depression as well as other mood and anxiety disorders. Both are part of a family of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIS.) Both drugs have a similar effect in the brain and have similar effects. However, there are important differences between them that lead to the differences in how and when they are prescribed. The reason is the individual differences in the enzyme in the brain called polyglycoprotein (PGP) transporter. Some people have copies of this protein that cause it to be extremely active and remove paroxetine from the brain before it can affect individuals. Fluoxetine is not affected by the PGP transporter, so it can treat depression in individuals with a more active version of this enzyme. This allows serotonin to apply greater effects on the brain. Slight differences in their activities mean that these drugs can be used to treat slightly different disorders. For example, fluoxetine is usually used to treat bipolar disorders and cataplets,While paroxetine is most commonly used to treat generalized anxiety disorders and erectile dysfunction. Both drugs are used in the treatment of large depression, bipolar disorders, panic disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders.
The length of the time for which these drugs remain in the body before breaking is a key difference between fluoxetine and paroxetin. In most people, paroxetine breaks down after about the day, while fluoxetine remains about one to three days. This difference is of functional importance, because when doctors wean patients from SSRI, they prefer one with a longer half -life to minimize the download effects. A person who uses paroxetine can be switched to fluoxetine by the doctor when the dose is reduced to prevent the selection.
The side effects that occur when using fluoxetine and paroxetine are quite similar. However, there are some small differences in the occurrence of the rates of individual side effects. PatientsTaking fluoxetine tends to report slightly more incidents of insomnia and loss of appetite, but paroxetine shows a higher degree of nausea and somnolence or drowsiness. However, studies that have examined the degree of efficacy and side effects are well tolerated by most people and that the side effects do not affect their usefulness.