SSRIs significantly increase the risk of both serious and non-serious adverse events .
The potential small beneficial effects seem to be outweighed by harmful effects .
Background The evidence on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) for major depressive disorder is unclear .
Methods Our objective was to conduct a systematic review assessing the effects of SSRIs versus placebo , ‘ active ’ placebo , or no intervention in adult participants with major depressive disorder .
Fluvoxamine in the treatment of the older depressed patient; double-blind, placebo-controlled data.
Fluvoxamine was given in placebo-controlled trials to 33 severely depressed patients of between 60 and 71 years , 29 received imipramine and 14 placebo .  At week 4 of treatment fluvoxamine and imipramine were superior to placebo on the HAMD and CGI scales ( P less than 0.05 ) . There was indication of an earlier onset of antidepressant activity in the fluvoxamine group . There was no evidence of systematic changes in laboratory variables in any treatment group . Fluvoxamine and placebo had similar effects on heart rate and blood pressure . Imipramine was associated with significant postural falls in mean systolic pressure . The most frequent unwanted symptom with fluvoxamine was mild nausea , with imipramine , dry mouth . Toxic confusion was the major reason for dropout in the imipramine ( n = 4 ) and nausea ( n = 3 ) in the fluvoxamine-treated group
SSRIs significantly increase the risk of both serious and non-serious adverse events .
The potential small beneficial effects seem to be outweighed by harmful effects .
Background The evidence on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) for major depressive disorder is unclear .
Methods Our objective was to conduct a systematic review assessing the effects of SSRIs versus placebo , ‘ active ’ placebo , or no intervention in adult participants with major depressive disorder .