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 .
A randomized, double-blind, active-control study of sertraline versus venlafaxine XR in major depressive disorder.
OBJECTIVE Sertraline may produce dual neurotransmitter effects similar to the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors ( SNRIs ) ; however , it has been tested against an SNRI in only 1 previous study , and never at an optimal dose . The objective of the current multisite study was to compare relatively higher doses of sertraline ( i.e. , 150 mg/day ) and venlafaxine extended release ( XR ) ( 225 mg/day ) in out patients with major depressive disorder . METHOD Subjects with DSM-IV major depressive disorder were r and omly assigned to 8 weeks of double-blind treatment with sertraline ( N = 82 ) or venlafaxine XR ( N = 78 ) . The study ran from January 2002 through January 2003 . The primary outcome measure was the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Question naire ; secondary outcome variables included the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression . RESULTS Both treatments led to significant improvement in depressive symptoms and quality -of-life measures . No significant differences were noted between treatment groups for final scores on the primary or secondary measures . The treatment groups did not differ significantly in the percentage of responders  ( sertraline = 55 % , venlafaxine XR = 65 % ; intent-to-treat [ ITT ] sample ) or remitters ( sertra-line = 38 % , venlafaxine XR = 49 % ; ITT sample ) , although the proportions are similar to those found in earlier selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor ( SSRI ) vs. venlafaxine meta-analyses . In patients who achieved the maximum dose of drug and maintained it for 3 weeks , response rates were similar to those found at lower doses ( sertraline = 59 % , venlafaxine XR = 70 % ) ; however , remission rates for this sample were comparable for both drug groups ( sertraline = 48 % , venlafaxine XR = 50 % ) . CONCLUSIONS The efficacies of sertraline and venlafaxine XR were comparable . Although response and remission rates did not differ statistically , the rates were analogous to those reported in previous meta-analyses . However , at clinical ly relevant higher doses , the remission rates were very similar . CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION Clinical Trials.gov identifier NCT00179283
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 .