What is the difference between fluoxetine and citalopram?

Fluoxetin and citalopram are drugs that are used to treat depression, along with some other mental disorders. Both are classified as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIS), a drug class that increases serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical produced in the brain that affects mood, and an increase in its levels can help reduce depressive symptoms.

Despite their chemical similarities, fluoxetine and citalopram have several important differences that impact, when and how they are used. Studies have shown that both drugs are approximately equally effective in their ability to treat depression. However, citalopram begins to alleviate the symptoms of depression somewhat faster. Fluoxetine is sometimes combined with another drug, olanzapine, to treat bipolar disorders, but citalopram is usually not used by this purpose. Some of the unique disorders that can be citalopram can be used for treatment include dysmorphic body disorder, anxiety, nerve pain and occasionally premature ejaculation. Polyglycoprotein (PGP) is a transport protein used to remove compounds from the brain. This protein may move citalopram from the brain in some individuals, making this substance less effective for some people. However, PGP does not affect fluoxetine, suggesting that this medicine would still be useful in people with this alternative form of PGP

The side effects of fluoxetine and citalopram are quite common for all SSRIs and include nausea, digestion and headaches. In these side effects, on the basis of a slight chemical difference, some slight differences between drugs are some slight differences. Citalopram can affect dopamine levels, chemicals of the neurotransmitter involved in mood functions and remuneration. This effect, which does not have fluoxetine, means that citalopram can sometimes cause patients lack of emotions, or become less likely to openly show emotions.

Fluoxetin and CitalopraM is different in its half life or at a time when it takes the body to process the half of the drug after its acceptance. The half -life of fluoxetine is approximately four to six days when used daily, but the half -life is only 36 hours. This may affect how doctors reduce patients from these drugs, as suddenly stopping SSRI treatment can lead to unpleasant and dangerous adverse effects. A patient who is trying to stop taking a citalopram can be switched from this medicine to fluoxetine by the first doctor, because the longer half of the life of the latter allows a more gradual narrowing with a fewer adverse effects.