1 December 2009
Difference Between Zoloft and Lexapro
Posted by admin under: Health .
Most people have depression, increased anxiety, and overall stress, due to the fast pace of today’s world. There are two of the treatments that are very popular today, Zoloft, and Lexapro, that are anti-depression medications being prescribed by most professionals in the heath care field, as a method of treatment for these conditions.
Lexapro and Zoloft are both in a class of medications known as SSRIs. The purpose of an SSRI, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is to assist the body in using serotonin more efficiently. Anxiety, depression, and occasionally personality disorders, are caused by serotonin in low levels in a person, as shown by studies.
Although SSRI medications do not cause addiction problems, you can still experience withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of use. Patients should always consult with a physician or other qualified health care provider when starting or discontinuing an SSRI medication. Because some severe reactions have occurred in younger patients, such as suicidal thoughts or behaviors, it is important to have them watched closely for any of these signs,
Even though generic Zoloft and Lexapro treat anxiety and depression similarly, there are small differences in the side effects caused by each one.
The most common side effects of each medication are detailed below, with Lexapro being safe for the majority of people. Side effects that are generally not serious, but common, include lower libido, anorgasmia, difficulty ejaculating, insomnia, or somnolence, and nausea. Although many people do not even experience any side effects, you should always pay attention to your body’s cues and report any change to your prescriber. In addition, sinusitis, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and certain infections of the respiratory tract might be developed by patients. Zoloft’s side effects are mostly identical to Lexapro, including tremors, anxiety, diarrhea, appetite changes, headaches, nervousness, weight changes, nausea, dry mouth, insomnia, fatigue, impotence, lowered sex drive, and difficulty in obtaining an orgasm, however most patients did not stop using the drug based on this, as most side effects have been reported to lower, or cease entirely with treatment that is continued.
Some symptoms you should be especially concerned about and seek medical care for include allergic reaction, fever with or without chills, any change in blood pressure, heartbeat or pulse. Zoloft differs from Lexapro, in that it causes gastrointestinal upset more often. Although there is a risk with both medications causing GI problems, there is a larger amount of continuous problems during all of the treatment with Zoloft.
Always inform your health care provider of any medications, prescription or non-prescription, that you are taking or have taken recently. Medications that are classified as MAOI may be incompatible with Lexapro or Zoloft, due to some occasional fatal interactions. Also, if there have ever been any problems with your liver or kidneys, you might not want to take Lexapro or Zoloft. Be certain to inform your health care provider if you have manic thoughts or seizures prior to the start of an SSRI treatment.
You must research on your own to make the decision of which drug works the best for you, and this applies to all treatments for depression. You can, along with your health care provider, come to a decision that is informed in order to choose whether you condition will be effectively treated by Lexapro or Zoloft. Remember, you should never self-medicate; there is a reason why you can only obtain these medications by prescription. Becoming educated and open-minded will help you determine the course of treatment that is best for you. It is very important to feel comfortable about the suggestions of your doctor. Come to an agreement about how you are going to treat your condition before starting any medicines.
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