SSRIs significantly increase the risk of both serious and non-serious adverse events .
The potential small beneficial effects seem to be outweighed by harmful effects .
Background The evidence on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) for major depressive disorder is unclear .
Methods Our objective was to conduct a systematic review assessing the effects of SSRIs versus placebo , ‘ active ’ placebo , or no intervention in adult participants with major depressive disorder .
Flibanserin: initial evidence of efficacy on sexual dysfunction, in patients with major depressive disorder.
INTRODUCTION Flibanserin , a novel 5-HT(1A ) agonist and 5-HT(2A ) antagonist , has the potential to treat  sexual dysfunction .  AIM Provide historical perspective on the rationale for development of flibanserin to treat sexual dysfunction , based on post hoc analyses of data . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The Arizona Sexual Experiences ( ASEX ) scale and the Hamilton depression rating scale ( HAMD ) Genital Symptoms item . METHODS Sexual function outcomes are presented from four double-blind , r and omized controlled studies involving a total of 369 men and 523 women diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder . Each study had an active treatment arm to confirm assay sensitivity on the primary antidepressive endpoint . Two studies placebo , flibanserin ( 50 mg bid ) , or fluoxetine ( 20 mg qd ) for 6 weeks and two involved placebo , flibanserin ( 50 - 100 mg bid ) , or paroxetine ( 20 - 40 mg qd ) for 8 weeks . RESULTS Individual study completion rates were 77 - 80 % . At baseline , 38 % of men and 67 % of women reported sexual dysfunction . Assay sensitivity was not demonstrated in the fluoxetine trials and sexual function outcomes were inconsistent . Flibanserin and placebo were associated with low rates of treatment-emergent sexual dysfunction in women during the paroxetine studies . In one study , 70 % of flibanserin-treated women with baseline sexual dysfunction reported improvement in sexual function , compared with 30 % of placebo-treated women . Mean change from baseline on the HAMD " Genital Symptoms " item in one paroxetine study was significantly better among flibanserin- than placebo-treated women at weeks 4 , 6 , and 8 ( P<0.05 ) . Sexual function adverse events across flibanserin groups were generally comparable to placebo . CONCLUSIONS Although these studies were not design ed or powered to compare sexual function outcomes , results suggested a potential benefit of flibanserin on sexual function , particularly on female sexual desire , and provided a rationale to evaluate the efficacy of flibanserin as a treatment for female hypoactive sexual desire disorder
SSRIs significantly increase the risk of both serious and non-serious adverse events .
The potential small beneficial effects seem to be outweighed by harmful effects .
Background The evidence on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) for major depressive disorder is unclear .
Methods Our objective was to conduct a systematic review assessing the effects of SSRIs versus placebo , ‘ active ’ placebo , or no intervention in adult participants with major depressive disorder .