Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: LEXAPRO versus ZOLOFT.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: LEXAPRO versus ZOLOFT.
LEXAPRO vs ZOLOFT
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI); inhibits serotonin reuptake at the presynaptic neuron, potentiating serotonergic activity.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI); potentiates serotonergic activity in the CNS by blocking the reuptake of serotonin at the presynaptic neuronal membrane, resulting in increased serotonin concentrations in the synaptic cleft.
10 mg orally once daily; may increase to 20 mg once daily after at least 1 week.
50 mg orally once daily, increased by 50 mg increments at 1-week intervals up to 200 mg/day for depression, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD, PMDD, social anxiety disorder.
None Documented
None Documented
27-32 hours (mean ~30 h); steady state reached in ~1 week; linear kinetics at therapeutic doses.
26 hours (terminal elimination half-life); steady state achieved in ~1 week; metabolite desmethylsertraline half-life 66 hours.
Primarily renal (approx. 80% as metabolites, 8% as unchanged drug); biliary/fecal elimination accounts for ~15%.
Renal: <0.5% unchanged; extensive hepatic metabolism; metabolites excreted renally and fecally.
Category C
Category C
SSRI Antidepressant
SSRI Antidepressant