escitalopram vs fluoxetine
Side-by-side comparison of escitalopram and fluoxetine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
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Escitalopram is a medicine used to treat depression and anxiety. It helps to balance chemicals in your brain.
Fluoxetine is a medicine that can help treat depression and other mental health conditions. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Escitalopram is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults and children 12 years and older. It also treats generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults. This medicine can help improve your mood and reduce feelings of worry.
Fluoxetine can treat major depressive disorder in adults and children. It also treats obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults and children. Fluoxetine can help with bulimia nervosa (an eating disorder) and panic disorder. Sometimes, it is used with another medicine called olanzapine to treat depression related to bipolar disorder.
Escitalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It works by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps regulate mood.
Fluoxetine works by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps regulate mood. By increasing serotonin, fluoxetine can help improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression, OCD, and other conditions.
- • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- • Problems with ejaculation (mostly delayed ejaculation)
- • Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)
- • Increased sweating
- • Feeling tired (fatigue)
- • Abnormal dreams
- • Problems ejaculating
- • Loss of appetite
- • Feeling anxious
- • Feeling weak
- Feeling tired 9,199
- Feeling sick to your stomach 9,160
- Medicine not working 8,597
- Head pain 7,114
- Loose stools 6,710
- The medicine is not working 3,637
- The medicine is interacting with another medicine 3,336
- Harmful effect from different substances 3,316
- Feeling sick to your stomach 3,233
- Feeling tired 3,155
Antidepressants can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teenagers, and young adults. Watch closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Escitalopram is not approved for use in children younger than 7 years old.
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teenagers, and young adults. Watch closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any changes in mood or behavior. Fluoxetine is not approved for use in children younger than 7 years old.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Taking escitalopram during pregnancy, especially later in pregnancy, may cause problems for the newborn. There is a pregnancy registry, call 1-844-405-6185.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Fluoxetine should only be used during pregnancy if the benefit outweighs the risk to the baby. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking fluoxetine.
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How to Read This escitalopram vs fluoxetine Comparison
escitalopram is classified in the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) drug class, while fluoxetine sits within the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, escitalopram has 40,780 submissions while fluoxetine has 16,677. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between escitalopram and fluoxetine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.