Re: Elavil not the same as Zoloft

[Guest guest]

Jeff:

I was on Zoloft about 14 years ago. When I lost my insurance, my option was

Elavil. Doc said it was a generic form of Zoloft. Both are

anti-depressants. The only downside of Elavil was that it caused weight

gain.

Zoloft has been around for ages. It has just within the last few years been

advertised on television.

Sam

[Guest guest]

<< I was on Zoloft about 14 years ago. When I lost my insurance, my option

was

Elavil. Doc said it was a generic form of Zoloft. Both are

anti-depressants. The only downside of Elavil was that it caused weight

gain.

>>

These two are very different antidepresants. Zoloft is an SSRI and Elavil is

a tricyclic.

J.

Mankato, MN

[Guest guest]

Zoloft is the brand name of a drug called Sertraline. It is in the

class of anti depressants known as SSRIs. I looked up the drug name at

the mayo clinic drug search. http://www.mayoclinic.com

Zoloft is in a different class than Elavil.

Elavil is the brand name of amitriptyline. Elavil is a tricyclic

antidepressant. That is a different class of antidepressant. Also

from Mayo's drug index.

Perhaps your doctor prescribed Elavil because it is an older drug and

was available as a generic for less money. I am not aware of a generic

for Zoloft still. Zoloft has been on the market for a long time. He

may have switched the type of antidepressant so it would be affordable

for you. Perhaps he told you that there was a generic of Elavil that

could replace Zoloft. Perhaps you just remembered what he said wrong.

I know I don't remember things as well as I would like. Perhaps he

just misspoke or was mistaken. But Elavil and Zoloft are not the same

drug.

Tobi

> <snip>

> I was on Zoloft about 14 years ago.  When I lost my insurance, my

> option was

> Elavil.  Doc said it was a generic form of Zoloft. Both are

> anti-depressants.  The only downside of Elavil was that it caused

> weight

> gain.

> <snip>

[Guest guest]

Moderator's Note: Several messages have been received and approved regarding

these two drugs and their DIFFERENCES. Elavil and Zoloft are chemically

different medications in different classes, i.e., not the same drug. The

problem seems to be in the information given by the doctor in question. He or

she may have been trying to simply say that these are both anti-depressants.

Elavil or amytriptyline (it's generic name) is extremely low cost compared to

other antidepressants. See other messages from today.

Sam - That's surprising. Please don't think I'm trying to argue, but for a

short period I took Elavil and I was not/am not aware that it is generic for

zoloft. I know that it is an anti depressant and that it left my month and

body extremely dry.

I guess I have to do my homework but I thought they worked in different

ways.

Thanks for the info.

-Jeff

RE: Elavil not the same as Zoloft

> Jeff:

>

> I was on Zoloft about 14 years ago. When I lost my insurance, my option

was

> Elavil. Doc said it was a generic form of Zoloft. Both are

> anti-depressants. The only downside of Elavil was that it caused weight

> gain.

>

> Zoloft has been around for ages. It has just within the last few years

been

> advertised on television.

>

> Sam

[Guest guest]

I understand Sam - I just wanted to point out that Zoloft and Elavil are not

the same drug. Typically a generic drug is " supposed " to be the same as the

brand name. These are two totally different drugs - although they are used

for depression.

-Jeff

RE: Elavil not the same as Zoloft

> Jeff:

>

> Most all medications, even generics and brands can and sometimes do work

> differently on the body. elavil, as I mentioned, causes weight gain.

> Zoloft does not.

>