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 .
Comparative efficacy of alprazolam, imipramine, and placebo administered once a day in treating depressed patients.
Ninety-eight out patients with major depressive disorder were treated with alprazolam , imipramine , or placebo in a 6-week , double-blind study . Average doses were 3.67 mg of alprazolam and 167 mg of imipramine , given at bedtime . Fifty percent of patients taking alprazolam , 38.2 % taking imipramine , and 17.7 % receiving placebo improved their HAM-D scores by more than 50 % . Eight patients on imipramine , 6 on alprazolam , and 1 on placebo dropped out because of side effects . The most common side effects for imipramine were tachycardia , constipation , light-headedness , and sedation ; common side effects of alprazolam were light-headedness , sedation , and unsteadiness
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 .