SSRI brand and generic names
These six generic names provide a focused SSRI study set. The brands are recognition examples; a brand’s release form and approved uses are separate details from membership in the class.
SSRI names to learn
| Brand name | Generic name |
|---|---|
| Celexa | citalopram |
| Lexapro | escitalopram |
| Prozac | fluoxetine |
| Luvox CR | fluvoxamine maleate |
| Paxil | paroxetine |
| Zoloft | sertraline |
Luvox CR is a historical extended-release fluvoxamine brand you may encounter in study material.
Understanding SSRIs
Expand the abbreviation once: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. That full name gives you the class label for the generic names in this table. It does not tell you which brand belongs to which generic, so the pairs still need individual practice.
SSRIs are one family within the broader antidepressant category. SNRIs—serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors—are a different family. Duloxetine, venlafaxine, and desvenlafaxine belong to that second group, even though they may appear beside SSRIs in your course notes.
Fluvoxamine is an SSRI, but the Luvox CR label concerns obsessive-compulsive disorder. Separate the questions “What class is this?” and “What is this specific product approved for?” The first is the focus of this name guide.
Naming patterns and memory tips
There is no single dependable SSRI suffix that identifies every member. The -pram ending helps you notice citalopram and escitalopram, but sertraline and fluvoxamine do not follow it. Learn the six names as a small family rather than inventing a rule that fits only two.
Group your first practice round by spelling contrasts: Celexa—citalopram beside Lexapro—escitalopram; Prozac—fluoxetine beside Luvox CR—fluvoxamine. Then add Paxil—paroxetine and Zoloft—sertraline as separate pairs.
After practicing those clusters, shuffle all six. If you always study Celexa immediately before Lexapro, the order can become a cue. A shuffled check shows whether the brand itself brings the correct generic to mind.
- Read the complete genericNotice es- in escitalopram and the different endings of fluoxetine and fluvoxamine.
- Retrieve the pairCover one column and say the missing name before checking it.
- Add a class contrastMix in Cymbalta—duloxetine from the SNRI group and identify which entry is not an SSRI.
Commonly confused SSRI names
Citalopram and escitalopram
Celexa is citalopram; Lexapro is escitalopram. Practice the full spelling rather than recognizing only the shared -citalopram portion. Keep the two brand prompts separate when checking recall.
Fluoxetine and fluvoxamine
Both begin with flu-, but Prozac pairs with fluoxetine and Luvox CR pairs with fluvoxamine. Slow down at the middle of the name: the shared beginning is not enough to identify the answer.
Paroxetine and duloxetine
The similar -oxetine endings can tempt you to assign the same class. Paxil—paroxetine is an SSRI, while Cymbalta—duloxetine is an SNRI. This is a useful counterexample to learning class from an ending alone.