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 .
[Citalopram and desmethylcitalopram for psychiatric patients].
Serum sample s were selected r and omly from blood sample s drawn in the morning for other reasons in patients treated with citalopram  , and the serum concentrations of citalopram ( S-citalopram )  and its major metabolite desmethylcitalopram were determined . A total of 44 patients , 13 males and 31 females , with a median age of 38.5 years ( range 18 - 89 ) entered the study . In 17 patients given 20 mg/day of citalopram the S-citalopram was ( median and range ) 153 nmol/l ( 83 - 237 ) . In 24 patients treated with citalopram 40 mg/day the S-citalopram was 240 nmol/l ( range 0 - 360 ) . In one serum sample no S-citalopram could be detected ( non-compliance ) and in another sample S-citalopram was just above the detection limit ( about 3 nmol/l ) . The latter may at least partly be due to treatment with 600 mg/day of carbamazepine , which is known to accelerate the metabolism of other drugs . The serum concentration of the major metabolite desmethylcitalopram averaged 28 % of S-citalopram and is most likely without clinical importance . It is concluded that determination of S-citalopram may be considered if there is doubt about the compliance of the patient , in drug interaction cases or if the clinical effect is poor . If high
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 .