Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: PROZAC versus ZOLOFT.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: PROZAC versus ZOLOFT.
PROZAC vs ZOLOFT
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 the reuptake of serotonin into presynaptic neurons.
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.
20 mg orally once daily, initially; may increase to 40 mg once daily after several weeks; maximum 80 mg once daily.
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
Fluoxetine: 4-6 days; norfluoxetine: 4-16 days; extensive accumulation with chronic dosing, steady-state in 4-5 weeks
26 hours (terminal elimination half-life); steady state achieved in ~1 week; metabolite desmethylsertraline half-life 66 hours.
Renal: ~80% (primarily as metabolites, <10% unchanged); fecal: ~15%
Renal: <0.5% unchanged; extensive hepatic metabolism; metabolites excreted renally and fecally.
Category C
Category C
SSRI Antidepressant
SSRI Antidepressant