Prozac vs Zoloft

[xXoblivionXx]

I've been doing some research and I want to see is one more effective than the other? I know that thy both treat depression and anxiety but Prozac seems to have more potential side effects. That's mainly why my dad wanted me to go on Zoloft instead but this second time around I want to make sure I have my facts straight. Has anyone been on both?

[Emerald Dream]

Depression, Loss, and Grief :arrow: Alcohol, Drugs, and Meds

This will probably get a better response here.

[Pulp501]

I've been doing some research and I want to see is one more effective than the other? I know that thy both treat depression and anxiety but Prozac seems to have more potential side effects. That's mainly why my dad wanted me to go on Zoloft instead but this second time around I want to make sure I have my facts straight. Has anyone been on both?

They both do the same thing really, but Zoloft does usually have less side effects, however you will experience some with both, like any medicine. It's also fine to try one, you can always switch. I haven't been on either though, but my mom has.

[CosmicNoodle]

Like you know, I've only been on prozac and it has a few nasty side effects, but only for the first month.
Both will have side effects, I'm not 100% sur but I think prozac is a stronger anti-d. So I supoose the question is, is the extra strenght worth the slightly increased side effcts for the first month?

[ksdnfkfr]

I think usually it's best to start of with something milder like Zoloft and then progress to Prozac if needed. I went from Celexa to Lexapro. I think Paxil is also more mild for side effects.

[xXoblivionXx]

Would Paxil just be for depression? Cause I don't want to take that for my depression then have to take Xanax for the anxiety.

My main concern is sides effects, I need to e on top of my game for my junior year.

[Magenta]

Everyone has different reactions to medications. I've had some terrible side effects to medications that supposedly have none. Neither one is "better than" the other, it's what works with your own body chemistry in particular. If one doesn't work for you, try the other. You won't know about which side effects you'll get until you try.

Personally, I tried Prozac and had to stop because I was grinding my teeth so much I'd wake up in pain.

[ViolinPro]

My comment is probably not going to get favored by a lot of people.
All antidepressants are CRAP. It'll take up to 3 hours to describe me why, how, and what are the reasons for why it is crap. A lot of evidence including ALL of my family friends who had serious depression and they all said it just made it worse.
Golden stuff, lots of exercise, good food, positive thinking, and just taking care of yourself and knowing you are the ****.
:)))

[TheN3rdyOutcast]

I've only been on Zoloft and Celexa.

[Strawberry_Essence]

I was on prozak for six months hated it. Felt like it did nothing to help me at all. Got put on Zoloft and I was extremely pleased with the outcome. I felt better and more lively. It was great. It helped me so much that after six months of using it I felt great enough to get off of it. (I found motivation to be happy and less anxious around people) I haven't been on any medications since then. I felt like meds were training wheels to guide you to a better life. I used to be on 3-4 different meds and Im good now.

PRozak made me grind my teeth like nobodies business. I ended up developing TMJ on it.

Posts merged. Next time please use the 'Edit' button. ~Hannah

[ImCoolBeans]

Prozac and Zoloft are very similar drugs. Both are SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors), meaning that they block the reabsorption of the neurotransmitter/hormone serotonin, which in turn helps treat depression. SSRIs normally don't affect other neurotransmitters, which is why they are called "selective", however Zoloft may affect the re-uptake of dopamine as well as serotonin, despite being classified as an SSRI. The two drugs work in similar fashion, and have similar side effects. I have not taken either, but from what I understand both may result in a loss of or decreased sexual drive, diarrhea, inner restlessness or agitation, anxiety, abnormal dreams, hives, rashes, and/or other possible side effects.

Everybody is different, and everybody must be treated accordingly. It's hard to say which is "better" in a Prozac vs. Zoloft debate, because one may wreak havoc and bring out many harsh side effects in one person, but work perfectly for another person. It also depends on your dosing, and if you've really figured out what the right dose is for you.

[Drummer Ben]

Okay want to say this coming from a person who has been on SSRI's for 10 years. Don't do it. It doesn't fix the problem, it only masks it. It's been hell being on SSRI's. The worst part is not drug will work for longer than 2 years and you'll have to keep switching because your body will get immune to it. What it does is it changes your brains chemistry but only temporary until your brain adjusts to it and it becomes in effective. Honestly I wish I never have taken ann anti-depression meds. It makes you more depressed over time. Your body will become dependent and addicted to the drug and won't be able to function without it. What you need is to find the reason why you feel out of sorts. It could be plenty of things, are you eating whole foods, getting the right vitamins and nutrients everyday, do you get enough sleep, enough exercise?

Now I will tell you a herb I've been taking that has done wonder for being. Holistic is really the way to go. Chamomile. 1000mg a day, huge help. What you can do is buy organic chamomile powder and buy non gmo vegan empty capsules and fill the powder yourself. Size 00 is 500mg so you'd take 2 capsules a day once you filled each one with the chamomile powder. Chamomile is in the daisy family and it really is calm and soothing. Start out slow though to make sure you aren't allergic to the pollen on it. So start off with one capsule a day and increase to two.

It's a shame how the pharma industry is marketing anti-depressants to make a quick buck. They really do not work. They never will fix the problem. Their side effects are horrific. They compromise your immune system. You will be a lot healthier and happier by going this route of herbs. If chamomile doesn't work theirs others but you could always try cannabis. Get a legal license. It works for some but had the opposite effect on others. You have many options when it comes to nature. Experiment and find your right match.

If you want to come off SSRI's do not quit cold turkey. Slowly reduce your dose and do it with the guidance of your doctor. I've been on everything from Celexa, Zoloft, Lexapro, and much more I have to look into the records to see. I pray you find a cure from nature that's fixes your anxiety like it has mine.

[Ben_Frost]

Okay want to say this coming from a person who has been on SSRI's for 10 years. Don't do it. It doesn't fix the problem, it only masks it. It's been hell being on SSRI's. The worst part is not drug will work for longer than 2 years and you'll have to keep switching because your body will get immune to it. What it does is it changes your brains chemistry but only temporary until your brain adjusts to it and it becomes in effective. Honestly I wish I never have taken ann anti-depression meds. It makes you more depressed over time. Your body will become dependent and addicted to the drug and won't be able to function without it. What you need is to find the reason why you feel out of sorts. It could be plenty of things, are you eating whole foods, getting the right vitamins and nutrients everyday, do you get enough sleep, enough exercise?

Now I will tell you a herb I've been taking that has done wonder for being. Holistic is really the way to go. Chamomile. 1000mg a day, huge help. What you can do is buy organic chamomile powder and buy non gmo vegan empty capsules and fill the powder yourself. Size 00 is 500mg so you'd take 2 capsules a day once you filled each one with the chamomile powder. Chamomile is in the daisy family and it really is calm and soothing. Start out slow though to make sure you aren't allergic to the pollen on it. So start off with one capsule a day and increase to two.

It's a shame how the pharma industry is marketing anti-depressants to make a quick buck. They really do not work. They never will fix the problem. Their side effects are horrific. They compromise your immune system. You will be a lot healthier and happier by going this route of herbs. If chamomile doesn't work theirs others but you could always try cannabis. Get a legal license. It works for some but had the opposite effect on others. You have many options when it comes to nature. Experiment and find your right match.

If you want to come off SSRI's do not quit cold turkey. Slowly reduce your dose and do it with the guidance of your doctor. I've been on everything from Celexa, Zoloft, Lexapro, and much more I have to look into the records to see. I pray you find a cure from nature that's fixes your anxiety like it has mine.

Holistic medicine is just as good as pharmacological medicine, the former was created for people that wouldn't experience any effects with the latter and that depended much on suggestion and the placebo effect. Psychiatric illnesses cannot be cured and can only be controled. You can't expect anti-depressant or any other psychiatric drug to cure you.

If a psychiatrist has prescribed a drug it's not just being prescribed to be sold, there's a lot of scientific research done about all these drugs and if they're still around it's because they've worked. Not on the 100% percent of the population, and that's the sole reason Holistic medicine exists, for the lower % that haven't been cured and that cannot commit to taking a chronic treatment for their illness.

Back on topic, Prozac has different considerations taken in account when prescribing it than Zoloft. Zoloft may have been effective for patient X, but it may not be for Patient Y. Furthermore, the side effects Prozac causes may be much harder for Patient Y to stand than they could be for Patient X, Patient X may be allergic to PRozac while Patient Y may be allergic to Zoloft, the human body just reacts differently and therefore, when speaking about medical drugs you can't really say one is better than the other.

[michealstich]

I've been on Zoloft for a couple years now. I tested out Prozac, but I believe it gave me anxiety or didn't help much in that department. I didn't know that Prozac had actions on Dopamine. I definitely know Zoloft works on dopamine and I think that is reason for it's effectiveness in social anxiety as compared to other SSRI's. From my personal experience, Zoloft has been far superior to Prozac.