Some statistically significant differences between citalopram and other antidepressants for the acute phase treatment of major depression were found in terms of efficacy , tolerability and acceptability .
Citalopram was more efficacious than paroxetine and reboxetine and more acceptable than tricyclics , reboxetine and venlafaxine , however , it seemed to be less efficacious than escitalopram .
BACKGROUND Recent US and UK clinical practice guidelines recommend that second-generation antidepressants should be considered amongst the best first-line options when drug therapy is indicated for a depressive episode .
Systematic review s have already highlighted some differences in efficacy between second-generation antidepressants .
Citalopram , one of the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRI ) introduced in the market , is one of these antidepressant drugs that clinicians use for routine depression care .
OBJECTIVES To assess the evidence for the efficacy , acceptability and tolerability of citalopram in comparison with tricyclics , heterocyclics , other SSRIs and other conventional and non-conventional antidepressants in the acute-phase treatment of major depression .
Occupancy of serotonin transporters by paroxetine and citalopram during treatment of depression: a [(11)C]DASB PET imaging study.
OBJECTIVE Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are commonly used to treat major depression ; however , the percentage of serotonin ( 5-HT ) transporter ( 5-HTT ) sites occupied during clinical dosing is unknown . This study measured the proportion of 5-HTT sites blocked during paroxetine and citalopram treatment of depression and assessed the relationship between serum paroxetine levels and the proportion of 5-HTT sites blocked . METHOD Twelve medication-free depressed patients completed a 6-week trial of either paroxetine ( N=8 ) or citalopram ( N=4 ) . Striatal 5-HTT binding potential was measured with [(11)C]DASB and positron emission tomography , before and after 4 weeks of treatment . The binding potential is proportional to receptor density . Striatal 5-HTT binding potential was measured twice in six healthy subjects and once in 11 healthy subjects . RESULTS A significant decrease in striatal 5-HTT binding potential was found after either treatment , compared to changes found over a 4-week period in healthy subjects . For patients treated with 20 mg/day of paroxetine ( N=7 ) , the mean proportion of 5-HTT sites occupied was 83 % . For patients treated with 20 mg/day of citalopram ( N=4 ) , the mean 5-HTT occupancy was 77 % . 5-HTT occupancy increased in a nonlinear relationship with serum levels of paroxetine such that a plateau of occupancy around 85 % occurred for serum paroxetine levels greater than 28 microg/liter . CONCLUSIONS During treatment with clinical doses of paroxetine or citalopram , approximately 80 % of 5-HTT receptors are occupied . This change in 5-HTT binding potential is greater than the known physiological range of changes in 5-HTT binding potential but may be necessary for some therapeutic effects
Some statistically significant differences between citalopram and other antidepressants for the acute phase treatment of major depression were found in terms of efficacy , tolerability and acceptability .
Citalopram was more efficacious than paroxetine and reboxetine and more acceptable than tricyclics , reboxetine and venlafaxine , however , it seemed to be less efficacious than escitalopram .
BACKGROUND Recent US and UK clinical practice guidelines recommend that second-generation antidepressants should be considered amongst the best first-line options when drug therapy is indicated for a depressive episode .
Systematic review s have already highlighted some differences in efficacy between second-generation antidepressants .
Citalopram , one of the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRI ) introduced in the market , is one of these antidepressant drugs that clinicians use for routine depression care .
OBJECTIVES To assess the evidence for the efficacy , acceptability and tolerability of citalopram in comparison with tricyclics , heterocyclics , other SSRIs and other conventional and non-conventional antidepressants in the acute-phase treatment of major depression .