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Lexapro Vs. Zoloft

Lexapro and Zoloft are used to treat depression and anxiety. As both belong to the class of drugs known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, their general effects, side effects and cessation effects are very similar. While most individuals respond similarly to each, some may respond better to one or the other as a result of differences in personal chemical makeup, and the underlying cause of the depression.

  1. History

    • Lexapro, developed by Forest Laboratories Inc., and approved for use in the treatment of depression by the FDA in 2002, contains the chemical escitalopram. This chemical was already on the market as a constituent of the older drug Celexa. It has been shown to be more effective in its current form. Besides depression, Lexapro is also used to treat OCD and general anxiety.

      Zoloft was developed by Pfizer, and was approved for the treatment of depression, OCD and general anxiety in 1991. It contains the chemical sertraline.

    Efficacy

    • Zoloft and Lexapro have demonstrated similar, significant effectiveness in trials. While the response to each drug is similar on average, it is not uncommon for them to affect individuals differently. Some patients may respond to one, but not the other, or experience more side effects with one than the other. This is due to slight differences in how they affect serotonin levels. The only way to find which is more effective for an individual is to actually try each.

    Side Effects

    • Lexapro and Zoloft are known for inducing slight somnolence (sleepiness), insomnia, nausea and sexual dysfunction, among other symptoms. In case studies, a significant side effect reported was akathisia, a vague feeling of inner muscular tension, similar to restless leg syndrome. Most side effects are present only when starting the drug, or changing the dose. As with effectiveness, individuals may experience more--or worse--side effects with one than the other.

    Discontinuation

    • There are similar discontinuation symptoms associated with SSRI's in general, and Lexapro and Zoloft are no exception. Among common symptoms are sudden emotional changes, and a symptom known as "brain zaps." It is recommended that SSRI dosing be gradually tapered down, under physician supervision, when quitting a drug, to minimize these effects.

    Statistics

    • As of 2007, there were an estimated 28 million prescriptions written for Zoloft. There were 18 million written for Lexapro. This should not necessarily be considered in the decision of which to use, as there are variables such as history (Zoloft may be more well-known simply because it has been on the market longer), marketing differences and approved indication differences.

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