Mirtazapine was significantly more effective than a serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor ( venlafaxine only , two trials , n = 415 ) at two weeks ( OR 2.29 , 95 % CI 1.45 to 3.59 ) and at the end of acute-phase treatment ( OR 1.53 , 95 % CI 1.03 to 2.25).In terms of dropouts , there was no robust evidence to detect a difference between mirtazapine and other antidepressants .
Mirtazapine was more likely to cause weight gain or increased appetite and somnolence than SSRIs but less likely to cause nausea or vomiting and sexual dysfunction .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Some statistically significant and possibly clinical ly meaningful differences between mirtazapine and other antidepressive agents were found for the acute-phase treatment of major depression .
Mirtazapine is likely to have a faster onset of action than SSRIs during the acute-phase treatment .
Dropouts occur similarly in participants treated with mirtazapine and those treated with other antidepressants , although the adverse event profile of mirtazapine is unique
BACKGROUND Mirtazapine has a unique mechanism of antidepressive action and is one of the commonly used antidepressants in clinical practice .
OBJECTIVES The aim of the present review was to assess the evidence on the efficacy and acceptability of mirtazapine compared with other antidepressive agents in the acute-phase treatment of major depression in adults .
Comparison of mirtazapine and fluoxetine in the treatment of major depressive disorder: a double-blind, randomized trial.
BACKGROUND Depression is an international public health problem . The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of mirtazapine and fluoxetine treatment in a sample population consisting of Iranian patients suffering major depressive disorder . METHODS Thirty-six in patients and out patients with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder ( Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV ) and a score > or = 18 on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( HAM-D-17 ) were r and omly assigned to 6 weeks of treatment with mirtazapine ( 30 mg/day ) or fluoxetine ( 20 mg/day ) . Efficacy was assessed by HAM-D-17 . Information about adverse events was obtained by question ing of participants and /or their examination . Assessment s were performed at weeks 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 and 6 . RESULTS Sixteen of mirtazapine-treated patients and fifteen of fluoxetine-treated patients completed the 6-week study period . Both treatment groups were well matched at baseline with respect to demographic and disease characteristics . Both drugs showed a significant improvement over the 6 weeks of treatment ( P < 0.001 ) . There was no statistically significant difference between the mean + /- SEM HAM-D scores of two groups at weeks 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , and at the end point . There were no significant differences between two groups in terms of response to treatment ( > or = 50 % decrease from baseline in HAM-D-17 total score ) and remission ( HAM-D-17 score of < or = 7 ) . None of the differences in reported adverse events was statistically significant . CONCLUSION In this study , mirtazapine and fluoxetine were equally effective and well tolerated after 6 weeks of treatment in patients with major depressive disorder
Mirtazapine was significantly more effective than a serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor ( venlafaxine only , two trials , n = 415 ) at two weeks ( OR 2.29 , 95 % CI 1.45 to 3.59 ) and at the end of acute-phase treatment ( OR 1.53 , 95 % CI 1.03 to 2.25).In terms of dropouts , there was no robust evidence to detect a difference between mirtazapine and other antidepressants .
Mirtazapine was more likely to cause weight gain or increased appetite and somnolence than SSRIs but less likely to cause nausea or vomiting and sexual dysfunction .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Some statistically significant and possibly clinical ly meaningful differences between mirtazapine and other antidepressive agents were found for the acute-phase treatment of major depression .
Mirtazapine is likely to have a faster onset of action than SSRIs during the acute-phase treatment .
Dropouts occur similarly in participants treated with mirtazapine and those treated with other antidepressants , although the adverse event profile of mirtazapine is unique
BACKGROUND Mirtazapine has a unique mechanism of antidepressive action and is one of the commonly used antidepressants in clinical practice .
OBJECTIVES The aim of the present review was to assess the evidence on the efficacy and acceptability of mirtazapine compared with other antidepressive agents in the acute-phase treatment of major depression in adults .