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 .
Mirtazapine Orally Disintegrating Tablets Versus Venlafaxine Extended Release: A Double-blind, Randomized Multicenter Trial Comparing the Onset of Antidepressant Response in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder
This r and omized , multicenter , double-blind study was design ed to compare specifically the onset of antidepressant action of mirtazapine orally disintegrating tablets ( ODT ) with venlafaxine extended-release ( XR ) formulation in out patients with major depression . Both treatments were administered in a rapidly escalating dosing regimen . Target doses ( mirtazapine ODT , 45 mg OD ; venlafaxine XR , 225 mg OD ) were reached by day 6 of treatment . On the primary efficacy parameter [ the average of the change in HAM-D ( 17-item ) total score on days 5 , 8 , 11 , and 15 ] , mirtazapine ODT was significantly superior to venlafaxine XR ( P = 0.008 ) . In addition , calculating the HAM-D score without the sleep items result ed in significant reductions in favor of mirtazapine ODT on days 8 ( P = 0.006 ) and 11 ( P = 0.037 ) . The proportion of responders ( HAM-D decrease of ≥50 % from baseline ) was higher in the mirtazapine ODT group on all assessment days , being significant on days 8 ( P = 0.002 ) , 11 ( P = 0.004 ) , and 22 ( P = 0.027 ) . More patients in the mirtazapine ODT group achieved remission ( HAM-D total score of ≤7 ) up to day 29 , and the difference was statistically significant on day 15 ( P = 0.016 ) . Significant differences in favor of mirtazapine ODT were evident in the CGI of change on days 8 ( P = 0.019 ) , 11 ( P = 0.004 ) , and 15 ( P = 0.031 ) , and the CGI of severity on days 8 ( P = 0.014 ) and 11 ( P = 0.033 ) . Both treatments were well tolerated . These results indicate that mirtazapine ODT has a faster onset of antidepressant efficacy  than venlafaxine XR in patients with major depressive disorder , and that this effect is independent of its sleep-improving properties
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 .