Some statistically significant differences between citalopram and other antidepressants for the acute phase treatment of major depression were found in terms of efficacy , tolerability and acceptability .
Citalopram was more efficacious than paroxetine and reboxetine and more acceptable than tricyclics , reboxetine and venlafaxine , however , it seemed to be less efficacious than escitalopram .
BACKGROUND Recent US and UK clinical practice guidelines recommend that second-generation antidepressants should be considered amongst the best first-line options when drug therapy is indicated for a depressive episode .
Systematic review s have already highlighted some differences in efficacy between second-generation antidepressants .
Citalopram , one of the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRI ) introduced in the market , is one of these antidepressant drugs that clinicians use for routine depression care .
OBJECTIVES To assess the evidence for the efficacy , acceptability and tolerability of citalopram in comparison with tricyclics , heterocyclics , other SSRIs and other conventional and non-conventional antidepressants in the acute-phase treatment of major depression .
Citalopram: Clinical effect profile in comparison with clomipramine. A controlled multicenter study
Abstract The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram was compared with clomipramine in a multicenter clinical study . From a total of 150 depressed patients ( age 18–65 years ) , 114 patients with a Hamilton Depression Scale ( HDS ) total score≧18 at the end of a 1 week placebo period were started on treatment with either citalopram ( 40 mg/day ) or clomipramine ( 150 mg/day ) ( fixed , single daily dose ) . Patients stratified according to diagnostic rating ( Newcastle Inventory , endogenous/non-endogenous ) were r and omly allocated to treatment groups using double blind principles . In total , 102 patients completed more than 2 weeks , treatment and were included in the analyses of therapeutic effect . The two drug groups were comparable in terms of sex , age , and departmental distribution . Categorical measurements of therapeutic effect based on the HDS total score showed that in the endogenously depressed patients a significantly higher percentage of patients on clomipramine ( n=37 ) than on citalopram ( n=38 ) were classified as complete responders ( HDS total≦7 ) after 3 , 4 and 5 weeks of treatment . In the non-endogenously depressed patients ( clomipramine : n=15 , citalopram : n=12 ) rather similar numerical differences were observed ( P<0.05 at 5th week ) . In the total patient group the percentage of complete response after 5 weeks was about 60 in the clomipramine group ( n=52 ) and about 30 in the citalopram group ( n=50 ) ( P<0.005 ) . The better effect of clomipramine seemed to be related in particular to the sleep items , but other items covering depression , retardation and anxiety/agitation also contributed to the difference in total score that was also seen in patients with low initial scores on the sleep items . Citalopram was devoid of the typical autonomic side effects and orthostatic hypotension seen with clomipramine . Symptoms of nausea/vomiting and headache became somewhat worse in the citalopram- and somewhat better in the clomipramine-treated patients . Participating centers:1Department of Psychiatry , Odense University Hospital , Odense , 2Department of Psychiatry , Rigshospitalet , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , 3Departments of Psychiatry , Frederiksborg General Hospital , Hillerød , 4Department A and C , Psychiatric University Hospital , Århus , 5Department of Psychiatry , Bornholm General Hospital , Rønne , 6Department of Clinical Pharmacology , Odense University , Odense Participating clinicians : J. And ersen2 , P. Bech2,3 , S. Benjaminsen1 , M. Bjerre1 , S. Bøjholm5 , P. Christensen1 , A. Gjerris2 , L. Hansted4 , E. Jensen3 , P. Kragh-Sørensen1 , C.B. Kristensen1,3 , P. Kyneb4 , D. Loldrup3 , O.F. Madsen4 , O.L. Pedersen1 , O.J. Rafaelsen2 , S. Rasmussen3 , N. Reisby4 , F. Sevaj3 , P. Simonsen4 , H.Y. Thomsen1 , P. Vestergaard4Coordination and drug assay : L.F. Gram6Statistical consultants : O. Aaskoven , P. Allerup Data - collection and -processing : C. Sánchez Steering Committee : P. Bech , L.F. Gram ( chairman ) , P. Kragh-Sørensen , O.J. Rafaelsen , N. Reisby , P.
Some statistically significant differences between citalopram and other antidepressants for the acute phase treatment of major depression were found in terms of efficacy , tolerability and acceptability .
Citalopram was more efficacious than paroxetine and reboxetine and more acceptable than tricyclics , reboxetine and venlafaxine , however , it seemed to be less efficacious than escitalopram .
BACKGROUND Recent US and UK clinical practice guidelines recommend that second-generation antidepressants should be considered amongst the best first-line options when drug therapy is indicated for a depressive episode .
Systematic review s have already highlighted some differences in efficacy between second-generation antidepressants .
Citalopram , one of the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRI ) introduced in the market , is one of these antidepressant drugs that clinicians use for routine depression care .
OBJECTIVES To assess the evidence for the efficacy , acceptability and tolerability of citalopram in comparison with tricyclics , heterocyclics , other SSRIs and other conventional and non-conventional antidepressants in the acute-phase treatment of major depression .