SSRIs

Question 0

Paroxetine (Paxil)

Answer 0

Paroxetine:

• more anticholenergic and wt gain/sedation
• no active metabolites and shorter half life
• highly protein bound = several drug interactions
• short half life= withdrawal phenomena if not taken consistently

Question 1

Fluoxetine (Prozac)

Answer 1

• longest half life
• activating
• lots of drug drug interactions (can increase levels of antipsychotics)
• safe in pregnancy, approved for use in children

Question 2

Sertraline (Zoloft)

Answer 2

• highest risk for GI disturbances (nausea/vomiting, etc.)
• less cytochrome inhibition
• FDA approved for PTSD
• greater dopaminergic activity
• more common sleep changes

Question 3

Citalopram (Celexa)

Answer 3

• clean, very little interactions
• caution in QTC prolongation
• possibly fewer side effects
• escitalopram= L-enatiomer, similar efficacy, maybe fewer side effects, more expensive

Question 4

Fluvoxamine (Luvox)

Answer 4

• lots of interactions
• used in OCD (only approved for OCD use)
• short half life
• nausea and vomiting more common