Paxil vs. Cymbalta

Are Paxil and Cymbalta the Same Thing?

Paxil(paroxetinehydrochloride) andCymbalta(duloxetine) areantidepressantsused to treat depression and anxiety disorders.

Paxil is also used to treat panic attacks,obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD),post-traumatic stress disorder, and a severe form ofpremenstrual syndrome(premenstrual dysphoric disorder).

Cymbalta is also used to treat pain associated with diabeticperipheral neuropathyorfibromyalgia.

Paxil and Cymbalta are different types of antidepressants. Paxil is aselective serotonin reuptake inhibitor(SSRI) and Cymbalta is a selectiveserotoninand去甲肾上腺素reuptakeinhibitor (SNRI).

What Are Possible Side Effects of Paxil?

Common side effects of Paxil include:

What Are Possible Side Effects of Cymbalta?

Common side effects of Cymbalta include:

  • nausea,
  • dry mouth,
  • constipation,
  • diarrhea,
  • fatigue,
  • tired feeling,
  • drowsiness,
  • difficulty sleeping,
  • loss of appetite, and
  • dizziness.

What is Paxil?

Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)antidepressantused to treat depression, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, post-traumaticstressdisorder, and a severe form ofpremenstrualsyndrome (premenstrual dysphoric disorder).

What is Cymbalta?

Cymbalta is a prescription medicine used to treat a certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Cymbalta belongs to a class of medicines known as SNRIs (or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors).

Cymbalta is also used to treat or manage:

What Drugs Interact With Paxil?

Call your doctor immediately if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Paxil may interact with cold orallergymedicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicines for seizures or anxiety, other antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood thinners,cimetidine, fentanyl, fosamprenavir, ritonavir, St. John's wort,tamoxifen,theophylline,tramadol, L-tryptophan, heart medications, medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, almotriptan, frovatriptan,sumatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, orzolmitriptan. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking Paxil. Paxil may cause heart defects or serious lung problems in a newborn if you take the medication during pregnancy. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant during pregnancy. Do not start or stop taking Paxil during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Paxil passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Consult doctor before breastfeeding.Withdrawal symptomsmay occur if you suddenly stop taking Paxil.

What Drugs Interact With Cymbalta?

Do Not take Cymbalta if you:

  • take a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take anMAOI, including theantibioticlinezolidor intravenousmethylene blue.
  • Do not take an MAOI within 5 days of stopping Cymbalta unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
  • Do not start Cymbalta if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 14 days unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take,including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Cymbalta and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:

Ask your healthcare provider for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.

Do not take Cymbalta with any other medicine that contain duloxetine.

How Should Paxil Be Taken?

The recommended initial dose of Paxil depends on the condition being treated and ranges from 20 mg/day to 50 mg/day.

How Should Cymbalta Be Taken?

Take Cymbalta exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Cymbalta until it is the right dose for you.

Swallow Cymbalta whole. Do not chew or crush Cymbalta.

Do not open the capsule and sprinkle on food or mix with liquids. Opening the capsule may affect how well Cymbalta works.

Cymbalta may be taken with or without food.

If you miss a dose of Cymbalta, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Cymbalta at the same time.

If you take too much Cymbalta, call your healthcare provider or poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 right away, or get emergency treatment.

When switching from another antidepressant to Cymbalta your healthcare provider

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References
Medical Editor:John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

SOURCE:

FDA. Paxil Product Information.

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/020031s067,020710s031.pdf

DailyMed. Cymbalta Product Information.

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=2f7d4d67-10c1-4bf4-a7f2-c185fbad64ba

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