I believe Lexapro has had better responses with SAD and depression than Prozac or Paxil. Prozac, Paxil, and Lexapro are all antidepressants, but Lexapro is most often prescribed for people with SAD, PTSD, or depression with generalized anxiety disorder. Both Paxil (paroxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline) work well for panic disorder, and both are classified as SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Both are well-tolerated and not as activating (induce agitation and anxiety) as Prozac (fluoxetine), another SSRI. In addition, Paxil and Zoloft are not as activating as the SNRIs, such as Effexor. Compare Paxil vs. Prozac, which is better for uses like: Depression, Anxiety and Panic Attacks. Compare head-to-head ratings, side effects, warnings, dosages, interactions and patient reviews. Patients rated Prozac 3.4/5 over Paxil 3.2/5 in overall satisfaction. Prozac (fluoxetine) is good for treating depression and anxiety. It's more energizing than other antidepressants, so it may not be the best choice for people who have trouble sleeping. It's more energizing than other antidepressants, so it may not be the best choice for people who have trouble sleeping. I was told I wouldn't be as tired on Prozac and that it might help me better with anxiety. I chose against it. I asked for Paxil. I have read that Paxil is good for anxiety. My doc was willing to let me try Paxil so I left with a script for Paxil. I wonder if I should've tried the Prozac. I had a doc tell me once that Paxil causes significant weight gain. Should I have tried Prozac? I don't. Improves mood and anxiety. Paxil (paroxetine) is effective for treating depression and anxiety, but causes more unwanted side-effects than other medicines that work like it. Paxil (paroxetine) is an antidepressant medication approved for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and other anxiety disorders. It is in the same class as Prozac and Zoloft. Like other Prozac is prescribed for Depression and is mostly mentioned together with this indication. In addition, our data suggest that some patients take it for Anxiety, although this is not an approved use*.