Lexapro vs Zoloft: How do they compare?

Both Lexapro and Zoloft belong to the class of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and are both FDA approved to treat anxiety and depression. Both are available in tablet and liquid forms. The main differences between Lexapro and Zoloft are:

• Lexapro is a branded version of escitalopram and Zoloft is a branded version of sertraline
• Zoloft is also FDA approved to treat OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), panic disorder, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), social phobia, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PDD)
• There are some differences in their side effects with Lexapro being more likely to cause sleep problems and taste disturbances, and Zoloft is more likely to cause skin rash or diarrhea.
• There is some evidence that Lexapro may be more effective than other SSRIs, including Zoloft, in the treatment of depression
• Lexapro was FDA approved in 2002 and Zoloft was FDA approved in 1991.

Because both drugs are SSRIs, they have many similarities, such as:

• They both work by preventing the reuptake of serotonin, a chemical in the brain that acts as a messenger between nerve cells. SSRIs increase levels of serotonin in the nerve synapse and this has been associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms
• Side effects, such as headache, nausea and vomiting, nervousness and anxiousness, dizziness, sexual problems (eg, erectile dysfunction), tremor, and weight gain (although this tends to be less than with other antidepressants) or weight loss are common to both Lexapro and Zoloft.
• Both have been associated with withdrawal symptoms when discontinued
• Both are branded drugs; however, generics are available for each drug which makes costs similar
• Both are prescription medicines, and neither is a controlled drug
• The likelihood of interactions with other drugs (such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pimozide, tramadol, St John’s wort) is similar.