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 .
Treatment of alcohol dependence in patients with co-morbid major depressive disorder – predictors for the outcomes with memantine and escitalopram medication
Background Alcohol dependence comorbid with major depressive disorder poses a major challenge in the clinical setting . The results in the treatment with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors have been conflicting . Thus , we compared in alcohol-dependent patients with co-morbid major depressive disorder the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor escitalopram to a compound that acts on different transporter system and may reduce craving , the glutamate receptor antagonist memantine . Methods Eighty alcohol-dependent patients comorbid with major depressive disorder in municipal alcohol clinics were r and omized 1:1 to receive memantine 20 mg or escitalopram 20 mg in a double-blind manner . During the 26-week study period patients continued their routine treatment at the clinics . Abstinence was not required but encouraged . The patients attended visits weekly during the first month , and then at 3 and at 6 months . Outcome measures were Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test ( AUDIT ) , Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale ( OCDS ) and Drinking Diary . Results The completion rate was high in both groups , especially among the patients who had been abstinent at the beginning of the study . However , among those patients who were not abstinent at baseline , 47 % in both groups discontinued the study . Numbers of abstinent days were high in both groups throughout the study . Alcohol consumption measured by the AUDIT QF ( quantity-frequency ) score was significantly reduced in both groups , as was the craving for alcohol measured by the OCDS . Early age at first alcohol intoxication predicted poor treatment outcomes in patients treated with escitalopram , and the same was seen with the early onset of the first depressive episode . The same predictive effects were not found in patients treated with memantine . Conclusion Our results indicate that both memantine and escitalopram are useful adjunct medications for the treatment of alcohol dependence co-morbid with major depression . Memantine was at least as effective with regard to drinking as escitalopram . We believe that a direct comparison of memantine , with the commonly used escitalopram , can provide useful information for clinicians on the treatment of alcohol dependency co-morbid with MDD.Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov Identifier #
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 .