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 .
Comparative effects of mirtazapine and fluoxetine on sleep physiology measures in patients with major depression and insomnia.
BACKGROUND Sleep complaints are common in patients with major depressive disorder ( MDD ) . Both MDD and antidepressant drugs characteristically alter objective sleep measures . This study compares the effects of mirtazapine and fluoxetine on sleep continuity measures in DSM-IV MDD patients with insomnia . METHOD Patients ( N = 19 ) received initial baseline polysomnography evaluations over 2 consecutive nights . Subjects were r and omly assigned to either fluoxetine ( 20 - 40 mg/day ) or mirtazapine ( 15 - 45 mg/day ) treatment for an 8-week , double-blind , double-dummy treatment trial . Single-night polysomnograms were conducted at weeks 1 , 2 , and 8 , with depression ratings assessed at baseline and weeks 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , and 8 . Statistical analysis was performed by repeated- measures analysis of variance followed by Dunnet 's post hoc analyses . RESULTS Patients receiving mirtazapine ( N = 8) had significant improvement in objective sleep physiology measures at 8 weeks . Improvements in sleep latency , sleep efficiency , and wake after sleep onset were significant after only 2 weeks of mirtazapine treatment . No significant changes in sleep continuity measures were observed in the fluoxetine group ( N = 11 ) . Both groups improved clinical ly in mood and subjective sleep measures from baseline , with no differences between groups . CONCLUSION These data demonstrate the differential effects of mirtazapine and fluoxetine , with significant improvement in favor of mirtazapine , on objective sleep parameters in MDD patients with insomnia
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 .