Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CELEXA versus PROZAC.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CELEXA versus PROZAC.
CELEXA vs PROZAC
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI); potentiates serotonergic activity in the CNS by blocking reuptake of serotonin into presynaptic neurons.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI); potentiates serotonergic activity in the CNS by blocking the reuptake of serotonin into presynaptic neurons.
20 mg orally once daily initially, may increase to 40 mg once daily after at least 1 week; maximum 40 mg/day.
20 mg orally once daily, initially; may increase to 40 mg once daily after several weeks; maximum 80 mg once daily.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life is approximately 35 hours (range 23–45 h) in healthy adults. This long half-life allows once-daily dosing; steady state is reached in about 1 week. In elderly patients, half-life may extend to 45–90 hours.
Fluoxetine: 4-6 days; norfluoxetine: 4-16 days; extensive accumulation with chronic dosing, steady-state in 4-5 weeks
Primarily renal: 75% as metabolites (10% as parent citalopram, 65% as desmethylcitalopram, didesmethylcitalopram, and citalopram-N-oxide). Fecal excretion accounts for approximately 20% of the dose. Biliary excretion minimal.
Renal: ~80% (primarily as metabolites, <10% unchanged); fecal: ~15%
Category C
Category C
SSRI Antidepressant
SSRI Antidepressant