Luvox vs. Sertraline
See how Luvox and Sertraline compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Luvox is FDA-approved only for obsessive-compulsive disorder, while sertraline is approved for six conditions including depression, PTSD, and panic disorder.
Both drugs commonly cause nausea and insomnia, but Luvox is more likely to cause somnolence and headache, while sertraline is more likely to cause sexual side effects.
Luvox strongly inhibits the liver enzyme CYP1A2, causing more drug interactions than sertraline, including with caffeine, theophylline, and clozapine.
Luvox vs. Sertraline Drug Summary
Luvox
Luvox (fluvoxamine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) approved to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults and children ages 8 and older. It comes as an oral tablet, with the dose increased gradually until OCD symptoms improve. Doctors sometimes prescribe it off-label for depression or anxiety disorders, though this use is not FDA-approved.
Sertraline
Sertraline, sold under the brand name Zoloft, is an SSRI approved for six psychiatric conditions, including depression, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD, social anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It comes as a once-daily oral tablet, started at a low dose and increased as needed based on response and tolerability.
Luvox vs. Sertraline Side Effects
Luvox
Sertraline
Luvox vs. Sertraline Dosage
Luvox
Sertraline
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 25 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 50 mg once daily | Days 1-7 |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | As tolerated |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 50 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 200 mg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 3 increases | As tolerated |
Luvox
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 25 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 50 mg once daily | Days 1-7 |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | As tolerated |
Sertraline
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 50 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 200 mg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 3 increases | As tolerated |
Luvox vs. Sertraline Indications
Luvox
Luvox is FDA-approved only for obsessive-compulsive disorder, in both adults and children ages 8 to 17. It is sometimes prescribed off-label for depression, social anxiety disorder, or panic disorder, though these uses fall outside its approved labeling.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults
OCD in children and adolescents ages 8-17
Off-label: major depressive disorder
Off-label: social anxiety disorder
Off-label: panic disorder
Sertraline
Sertraline carries FDA approval for six conditions, more than most other SSRIs, including major depressive disorder, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD, social anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. This broad approval makes it a common first-choice option for a range of mood and anxiety disorders.
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Panic disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Social anxiety disorder
Luvox vs. Sertraline Pros and Cons
Luvox
Luvox has decades of clinical use specifically for OCD, but its FDA approval does not extend to depression or other anxiety disorders the way sertraline's does. It also has more pronounced effects on the liver enzyme CYP1A2, raising the risk of interactions with common substances like caffeine.
Pros
FDA-approved for OCD in children as young as age 8
Long clinical track record specifically for OCD symptom control
Generic extended-release capsule available for once-daily dosing
Cons
FDA-approved only for OCD; other uses are off-label
Strong inhibitor of CYP1A2, causing interactions with caffeine, theophylline, and clozapine
Higher reported rates of nausea, somnolence, and asthenia than sertraline
Sertraline
Sertraline's broad FDA approval across six conditions gives prescribers more flexibility than fluvoxamine offers, and its drug interaction profile is generally more manageable. Its side effect profile, including sexual dysfunction, is a common reason patients consider switching medications.
Pros
FDA-approved for six conditions, including depression, PTSD, and PMDD
Fewer significant CYP450 drug interactions than fluvoxamine
Simpler titration schedule with fewer dose-adjustment steps
Cons
Sexual side effects, including ejaculation failure, reported in up to 14% of men
Not studied for OCD as extensively as fluvoxamine over the years
Available in multiple forms (tablet, capsule, liquid) that can complicate dosing consistency
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