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 .
Administration of Citalopram Before ECT: Seizure Duration and Hormone Responses
From theoretical and clinical perspectives , it is important to know if selected serotonin-reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) , often administered concurrently with electroconvulsive therapy ( ECT ) , modify seizure duration . In a study with a double-blind , cross-over design , the authors evaluated the effect of citalopram , the most selective SSRI available , on the length of electrically induced seizures and on hormone secretion during ECT . Ten depressed women were given either 20 mg citalopram or placebo orally 2 hours before the third and fourth ECT sessions . Seizure duration was assessed by the cuff technique and from electroencephalographic recordings , whereas blood for prolactin , thyrotropin , and cortisol assessment was sample d before ECT and 5 , 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 60 minutes after ECT . No adverse effects after the administration of citalopram were recorded . The length of seizures was not statistically different in the citalopram ( 29.3 ± 8.4 seconds ) and placebo sessions ( 28.2 ± 9.4 seconds ) . Neither pre-ECT plasma hormone levels measured 2 hours after citalopram or placebo administration nor the patterns of ECT-induced hormone secretions differed between the two drug and placebo conditions . The lack of effect of citalopram on hormones in this study may be a result of possible deficiencies of the monoaminergic ( i.e. , serotoninergic ) systems in depression . Although safety and efficacy issues were not fully addressed by coadministering citalopram for the long term and throughout the course of ECT , these findings support the view that challenges the typical clinical practice of discontinuing SSRIs before ECT
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 .