When alprazolam was compared with placebo for reduction in symptoms all estimates indicated a positive effect for alprazolam .
The RD of all-cause withdrawals did not differ between alprazolam and placebo .
Alprazolam appears to reduce depressive symptoms more effectively than placebo and as effectively as tricyclic antidepressants .
Whilst the rate of all-cause withdrawals did not appear to differ between alprazolam and placebo , and withdrawals were less frequent in the alprazolam group than in any of the conventional antidepressants combined group , these findings should be interpreted with caution , given the dependency properties of benzodiazepines
BACKGROUND The ' off-label ' effect of alprazolam on depression has not been systematic ally evaluated .
OBJECTIVES To determine the antidepressant effect , including tolerability and acceptability , of alprazolam as monotherapy for major depression , when compared to placebo and conventional antidepressants in out patients and patients in primary care .
A Comparison of the Safety and Efficacy of Alprazolam and Desipramine in Moderately Severe Depression *
Fifty-four patients ( 34 out patients , 20 in patients ) fulfilling Research Diagnostic Criteria for Definite Major Depressive Disorder were enrolled in a double-blind study comparing the antidepressant effects of alprazolam versus desipramine . The mean daily dose of alprazolam and desipramine at study termination was 3.78 mg and 208 mg respectively . As there were no significant demographic or clinical differences between out patients and in patients , both groups were combined in data analysis . Using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ( HAM-D ) both drug groups showed highly significant improvement beginning with the first week of active drug treatment . HAM-D scores continued to decrease through study termination ( six weeks of active drug ) . There were no significant differences when comparing alprazolam and desipramine ( out patients , in patients , or both groups combined ) on any of the subjective or objective psycho-metrics used in this study . Clinical ly , only twelve of thirty-four out patients ( 35.3 % ) were felt to be “ markedly or moderately ” improved , suggesting that neither the outpatient alprazolam nor desipramine patients did particularly well with drug treatment . In terms of drug safety there was no difference between the alprazolam and desipramine in the number of excessive or serious drug side effects . However , five of twenty-nine alprazolam patients had to discontinue therapy because of excessive drowsiness , and two of the alprazolam out patients had motor vehicle accidents directly related to this adverse event . Alprazolam appeared as effective as desipramine in the pharmacotherapy of this group of depressed outpatient and in patients .  Alprazolam appeared well-tolerated by most subjects although drowsiness was a common — and at times serious — medication side effect
When alprazolam was compared with placebo for reduction in symptoms all estimates indicated a positive effect for alprazolam .
The RD of all-cause withdrawals did not differ between alprazolam and placebo .
Alprazolam appears to reduce depressive symptoms more effectively than placebo and as effectively as tricyclic antidepressants .
Whilst the rate of all-cause withdrawals did not appear to differ between alprazolam and placebo , and withdrawals were less frequent in the alprazolam group than in any of the conventional antidepressants combined group , these findings should be interpreted with caution , given the dependency properties of benzodiazepines
BACKGROUND The ' off-label ' effect of alprazolam on depression has not been systematic ally evaluated .
OBJECTIVES To determine the antidepressant effect , including tolerability and acceptability , of alprazolam as monotherapy for major depression , when compared to placebo and conventional antidepressants in out patients and patients in primary care .