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 vs. amitriptyline vs. placebo in the treatment of major depressive disorder.
Patients ( n = 150 ) were r and omized to a 6-week , double-blind study to evaluate the relative efficacy and safety of mirtazapine , amitriptyline , and placebo in the treatment of major depressive disorder symptoms . Average daily modal doses were mirtazapine , 18 mg ; amitriptyline , 111 mg ; and placebo , 4.6 capsules . Mirtazapine- and amitriptyline-treated patients had statistically significantly greater mean Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( HAM-D ) score reductions ( weekly visits 1 , 2 , 4 , and endpoint ) compared to placebo . These findings were supported by the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) ; the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale ( SDS ) ; and the Clinical Global Impressions ( CGI ) scales . Somnolence and weight gain were the only adverse clinical experiences ( ACEs ) reported substantially more often by mirtazapine-treated patients than by those in the placebo group . However , more amitriptyline-treated patients reported decreased visual accommodation , dry mouth , dyspepsia , constipation , tachycardia , hypertension , hypotension , discoordination , dizziness , and tremor than mirtazapine- or placebo-treated patients . Results of this study indicate that mirtazapine is more effective than placebo in the treatment of these patients , and superior to amitriptyline in respect to anticholinergic and cardiovascular effects
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 .