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 .
Randomized trial of sertraline versus venlafaxine XR in major depression: efficacy and discontinuation symptoms.
BACKGROUND The comparative efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors ( SNRIs ) was recently debated . Meta-analyses , based mainly on fluoxetine comparator data , suggest that the SNRI venlafaxine has superior efficacy to SSRIs in treatment of major depression . OBJECTIVE To compare quality of life ( QOL ) , efficacy , safety , and tolerability associated with sertraline and venlafaxine extended release ( XR ) for treatment of DSM-IV major depression . METHOD This was an 8-week , double-blind , r and omized study of sertraline ( 50 - 150 mg/day ) versus venlafaxine XR ( 75 - 225 mg/day ) , followed by a 2-week taper period . Subjects were recruited from 7 sites in Turkey and 6 sites in Australia between October 2002 and July 2003 . The primary outcome measure was the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Question naire . Secondary outcome measures included measures of depression ( including response and remission ) , anxiety , pain , safety ( e.g. , blood pressure ) , and tolerability ( e.g. , discontinuation symptoms ) . RESULTS A total of 163 subjects received study treatment ( women , 69 % ; mean age , 37.0 [ SD = 12.9 ] years ) . No significant differences in QOL or efficacy were noted between treatments on the primary or secondary endpoints for the total study population or the anxious depression and severe depression subgroups . A priori analyses of symptoms associated with treatment discontinuation demonstrated no difference between treatment groups . However , in post hoc analyses , sertraline was associated with less burden of moderate to severe discontinuation symptoms . Venlafaxine XR was associated with a relative increase in mean blood pressure ( supine diastolic blood pressure , -4.4 mm Hg difference at week 8/last observation carried forward ) . CONCLUSION Sertraline and venlafaxine XR demonstrated comparable effects on QOL and efficacy in treatment of major depression , although sertraline may be associated with a lower symptom burden during treatment discontinuation and a reduced risk of blood pressure increase
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 .