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SSRI comparison reference

Side-by-side comparison of every SSRI covered on PsychiatryRx: starting doses, half-lives, active metabolites, common side effects, and typical trial length.

Current version: v1.3 Updated: 2026-07-15 Reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA Audience: public + clinicians

Download

Version-locked PDF. When we revise this reference, the URL you're on stays the same and the file below is replaced with the current version. Link to this page (not to the file) so readers always receive the current version.

Download v1.3 PDF Filename: ssri-comparison-chart.pdf

Overview

A one-page reference for the medications in the SSRI class. Compares starting dose, target dose range, elimination half-life, active metabolite status, most common side effects, and typical time to full effect. Written for readers weighing two options and for prescribers reaching for the fastest comparison at the desk.

Contents

  • Starting dose and target dose range for adult depression and adult anxiety indications
  • Elimination half-life (parent drug and active metabolite where applicable)
  • Common side effects by frequency
  • Notable drug-drug interactions and CYP450 considerations
  • Discontinuation-syndrome risk profile
  • Typical time to full effect

Sources

  • FDA prescribing information for each drug (accessed via DailyMed)
  • MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
  • APA Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder, current edition
  • Cipriani A, et al. Comparative efficacy and acceptability of 21 antidepressant drugs. Lancet 2018.

Review record

  • Reviewer of record: Shariq Refai, MD, MBA (psychiatrist)
  • Current version: v1.3
  • Version updated: 2026-07-15
  • Next scheduled review: July 2027
  • Correction mechanism: /corrections-policy — email [email protected] with a specific source citation and we will review within two business weeks.

Canonical concepts

This reference maps to the following canonical Shrink Network concept ids: ssri, sertraline, fluoxetine, escitalopram, paroxetine, citalopram, fluvoxamine.

Related resources on PsychiatryRx

Network mirror: Shrink Network toolkit: SSRI comparison

How to cite or link to this reference

If you're referencing this in a syllabus, institutional protocol, or academic material:

SSRI comparison reference (v1.3, updated 2026-07-15). PsychiatryRx. https://psychiatryrx.org/references/ssri-comparison. Reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA.

Link to the URL above, not the PDF file. That way your readers receive the current version even after we revise.