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 .
Plasma tryptophan and tyrosine ratios to competing amino acids in relation to antidepressant response to citalopram and maprotiline
Pretreatment plasma ratios of tryptophan ( Trp ) and tyrosine ( Tyr ) to other large neutral amino acids were determined in 27 depressed patients who completed a double-blind trial of citalopram , a selective serotonin uptake inhibitor , against maprotiline , a selective noradrenaline uptake inhibitor .  The Trp ratio and the Tyr ratio were decreased in the total patient sample as compared with healthy controls . Plasma Tyr ratio was normal in the endogenous , but significantly decreased in the non-endogenous depressives . There was no significant relationship between the plasma Trp ratio and the probenecid-induced accumulation of 5-HIAA in the CSF , or between the plasma Tyr ratio and HVA level in CSF , whereas the CSF level of MHPG correlated significantly with the plasma Tyr ratio . There was a significantly positive correlation between the Trp ratio , the Tyr ratio , their sum and the final Hamilton depression score in 14 patients treated with citalopram ; on the whole , this association was evident also in the endogenous and non-endogenous subgroups . In 13 patients on maprotiline there was a significantly positive correlation between the plasma Tyr ratio and the percent reduction of Hamilton depression score ; this association was poor in the endogenous , whereas a trend towards a correlation remained in the non-endogenous subgroup . The results suggest that the plasma Trp and Tyr ratios may be determinants of clinical improvement in depressed patients to treatment with citalopram and maprotiline . However , further studies are needed on larger patient sample s to allow a firm conclusion
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 .