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 .
St John's wort or sertraline? Randomized controlled trial in primary care.
OBJECTIVE To compare the change in severity of depressive symptoms and occurrence of side effects in primary care patients treated with St John 's wort ( SJW ) and sertraline .  DESIGN Double-blind , r and omized 12-week trial . SETTING Community-based offices of 12 family physicians practising in greater Montreal , Que . PARTICIPANTS Eighty-seven men and women with major depression and an initial score of > or = 16 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( Ham-D ) . INTERVENTIONS Patients were r and omized to treatment with either sertraline ( 50 to 100 mg/d ) or SJW ( 900 to 1800 mg/d ) in a double-blind fashion . Assessment of depression was done at entry and at 2 , 4 , 8 , and 12 weeks using the Ham-D , the Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI ) , and a question naire asking about compliance and side effects . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Changes from baseline in Ham-D and BDI scores and self-reported side effects . RESULTS There were no important differences in changes in mean Ham-D and BDI scores ( using intention-to-treat analysis ) , with and without adjustment for baseline demographic characteristics , between the two groups at 12 weeks . Significantly more side effects were reported in the sertraline group than in the SJW group at 2 and 4 weeks ' follow up . CONCLUSION The more benign side effects of SJW make it a good first choice for this patient population
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 .