Hello,
Welcome back.
Just to confirm, may I know the specific indication for the medication ? (Depression and Anxiety ?) The standing diagnosis by your Doctor.
(SSRIs can be used in many conditions)
Thank you
Patient replied :
Anxiety and Depression. Anxiety is a lot more prevalent and from time to time I suffer from panic attacks. So irritability, racing mind severe anxiety excessive worrying really bad Insomnia. Worrying and anticipation that bad things will happen. Feeling guilty or like I have always done something wrong or will do something wrong.
After being on Zoloft for over a year all these symptoms have gone down dramatically and my work and studying for the CPA exam has improved a great deal.
Thank you
Lexapro and Zolft , both are SSRIs with very similar profiles.
Many studies and meta analysis proved no statistically significant difference among all. But in general Lexapro and Zolft are found slightly superior to others like Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine. Side effect profiles are similar. Zolft is a better choice if you have a history arrhythmia's. (not a concern in your case anyway).
Prisitiq is slightly different class of medication. If Zolft is working for you should stick on to that. I would not say it is the gold standard, but Zolft is the most commonly used medication among all.
Thank you
(Cipriani A, Santilli C, Furukawa TA, et al. Escitalopram versus other antidepressive agents for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009; :CD006532.
Cipriani A, La Ferla T, Furukawa TA, et al. Sertraline versus other antidepressive agents for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010; :CD006117.)
Patient replied :
I like Sertraline and will stick with it for sure. My doctor was shocked that Pristiq wasn't helping so I was curious as to why he was shocked. I thought the SNRI's were suppose to be more effective than SSRI's due to the dual neurotransmitter affect. Just was curious thanks for all your help especially concerning the weight and confirming its mind over manner it has already started to help.
SSRIs are preferred especially when there is Depression + Anxiety. Do stick on with Sertraline.
Wish you good health
Feel free to get back to me anytime.
Thank you
Patient replied :
Sorry to pester you again but just for clarifications sake, is it true that Zoloft is the least likely SSRI to cause weight gain? I have read that Lexapro is but I think most of that was because it was new and only recently became generic.
Thanks
Hello and thankyou for your query.
Lexapro and Zoloft are very similar in their profile. Which means that their efficacy as well as side effects are very similar. Both are SSRIs and both cause less weight gain. As I said earlier since Zoloft is working on you I would advise you to continue it. Some people feel that they have gained more or less weight with a particular drug, but that is a perspective feeling. Scientifically both Lexapro and and Zoloft are proved to have similar profiles. Except that Zoloft is preferred if a patient has history of arrythmias.
I hope this has helped.
Thankyou