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 .
Quetiapine augmentation of treatment-resistant depression: a comparison with lithium
ABSTRACT Objective : The prevalence of and morbidity associated with treatment-resistant depression has motivated the exploration of treatment alternatives . In this study , quetiapine was compared with lithium in the augmentation of treatment-resistant depression . Research design and methods : Open-label , comparative study in 20 patients with major depression who had failed to respond after 4 weeks of treatment with an antidepressant at the maximal recommended dose . Patients were r and omised to either lithium or quetiapine in addition to the maximally dosed antidepressant and any other concurrent medications . Lithium was initiated at 600 mg/day ; quetiapine was titrated to 400 mg by day 7 . Results : Depression , measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ( HAM‑D ) , significantly improved from baseline in both quetiapine ( F1,90 = 25.11 , p < 0.0001 ) and lithium ( F1,90 = 34.54 , p < 0.0001 ) . The difference in improvement between the two groups began at day 14 and was seen at all timepoints thereafter ( p < 0.05 ) , with the quetiapine group showing greater improvement than the lithium group . In the Montgomery – Asberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) analysis , the difference between the quetiapine and lithium group was significant from day 28 onwards ( p < 0.05 ) , with subjects improving more in the quetiapine group than the lithium group . The treatment by week interaction showed a significant difference overall between the two groups ( p < 0.0001 ) . The severity of psychomotor retardation showed a significant decrease in the Widlocher Psychomotor Retardation Scale scores in the quetiapine ( p < 0.0001 ) and lithium ( p < 0.0001 ) groups . Conclusions : In this pilot study , quetiapine was an effective augmenting agent in treatment-resistant depression
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 .