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 .
Comparison of alprazolam, imipramine, and placebo in the treatment of depression.
Alprazolam is the first of the triazolobenzodiazepines to be studied in a large population of depressed patients . In a six-week , double-blind multicenter comparison of alprazolam , imipramine hydrochloride , and placebo in the treatment of 723 patients with depression , the two active drugs were statistically more effective than placebo . Alprazolam was at least as effective as imipramine in relieving depressive symptoms , significantly more effective in relieving somatic symptoms , and showed an earlier onset of activity in some measurements . Anticholinergic side effects were reported most often by patients receiving imipramine , while drowsiness was the only side effect reported most often in the alprazolam group . The Feighner Diagnostic Criteria and pre study and post study intercenter conferences with videotaped patient interviews ensured interrater reliability
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 .