Key takeaways
Fluvoxamine (Luvox) and sertraline (Zoloft) are both selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) used to treat mental health conditions, but they have some key differences. Fluvoxamine is primarily used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder and is available only in generic form, while Zoloft is used to treat a wider range of conditions, including major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Fluvoxamine can be taken once or twice daily, depending on the form, whereas Zoloft is typically taken once daily. Both medications can cause side effects like nausea and sleep problems, but fluvoxamine is more likely to cause side effects such as diarrhea and has a higher risk of medication interactions. Zoloft, on the other hand, is less likely to cause weight gain compared to some other SSRIs and has fewer interactions. Both medications shouldn't be stopped abruptly to avoid withdrawal symptoms, and alcohol should be avoided while taking them.
