Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, Paxil, Lexapro and are all SSRI medication but you may prefer one vs the other and have a different reaction to each. This video explains what to expect and how to make a decision that helps you get better!

The most common form of antidepressant is known as an SSRI - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor - if you want to know how this works I have a whole other video about that - right here! Depending on your source between 1 in 6 and 1 in 10 of the population are currently prescribed antidepressant and the vast majority of these will take an SSRI.

Video Contents:

00:00 - Introduction to video
01:00 - Different types of antidepressants - how do they work?
02:08 - What are the key differences between different antidepressants?
02:22 - The Half life of different antidepressant SSRIs
04:06 - Methods of consumption
05:07 - Dietary considerations about antidepressants
05:50 - Different genetic response to antidepressants
07:28 - How long will the antidepressants take to start working?
07:54 - Summary - how to choose the right antidepressant

SSRIs are all great at combating many mental health issues such as depression, general anxiety, PTSD, OCD etc. Which ever you take has the potential to significantly help your mental state.

The names listed at the start - Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa and so on are all SSRI medication so whilst they perform the same role in your body your individual reaction to different meds can be varied. So what are the differences?

The Key Differences

1. Half Life
2. Method of consumption
3. Dietary Considerations
4. Your own bodies reaction

Half Life

The Amount of time it takes for the amount of medication in the body to halve. Looking at this chart you can see this ranges considerably with SSRI medication. A shorter Half Life can mean that withdrawal is more of a shock to the system as the chemical change is more rapid; so whilst a longer half life med isn’t always the best choice it is useful knowledge if you decide to reduce your dosage and find withdrawal difficult. Moving to another SSRI with a longer half life can help this process.
A longer half life can also lead to less issues if you accidentally miss a dose. Your body won’t panic that you’ve gone ‘cold turkey’ quite as quickly.

Citalopram (Celexa) - 36 Hour Half Life
Escitalopram (Lexapro) - 30 Hour Half Life
Fluoxetine (Prozac) - 144 Hour Half Life
Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) - 24 Hour Half Life
Sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral) - 36 Hour Half Life

Method of consumption
(e.g. Fluoxetine can be taken in liquid form that you simply drop into your mouth.)

People have preferences over how they take the meds. Some people hate swallowing pills and prefer something that dissolves in a glass of water. Some people prefer capsules to tablets. Each SSRI is available in different forms and if this element is an important part of you committing to taking it then speak with your GP. Likewise if you find yourself struggling with the method of consumption - raise it during your next medication review.

Dietary Considerations
(e.g Citlolapram contains lactose, fluoxetine capsules contains gelatine)

If you are lactose intolerant or vegan there might be dietary considerations to bear in mind.

Your Bodies Reaction

This is personal to you and difficult to predict. The Mayo Clinic recognises that your inherited traits i.e. your genetic makeup, play a role in determining how well your body reacts to different medication. You may have severe side effects with Prozac and find that Zoloft is an easier experience. If we understand that genetics plays a role here and you have close relatives who have taken antidepressants then asking about their experiences might help you and your GP find the right medication for you as your response may well be similar.
Your body will give you feedback about how things are going and it is up to you how you respond but consider the following:

ALL SSRIs are likely to cause some unpleasant side effects, particularly in the first couple of weeks.
It can take about 6 weeks before your body begins to feel the positive side effect.

If you feel confused about which antidepressant is right for you - you are not alone!

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