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 .
Escitalopram prevents relapse in older patients with major depressive disorder.
OBJECTIVE The present study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of escitalopram in the prevention of relapse of  major depressive disorder ( MDD ) in older patients who had responded to acute treatment with escitalopram .  METHOD A total of 405 patients who were aged 65 years or older with a primary diagnosis of MDD ( according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fourth Edition criteria ) and a Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) total score of 22 or more received 12-week , open-label escitalopram 10 or 20 mg per day treatment . Remitters ( MADRS < /=12 ) were r and omized to 24-week double-blind treatment with escitalopram or placebo . The primary efficacy parameter was the time to relapse , defined as either an increase in MADRS total score to 22 or more or lack of efficacy as judged by the investigator . RESULTS Three hundred five patients  achieved remission and were r and omly assigned to treatment with escitalopram ( N = 152 ) or placebo ( N = 153 ) . The primary analysis showed a clear beneficial effect of escitalopram relative to placebo on the time to relapse ( log-rank test , chi(2 ) = 27.6 , df = 1 , p < 0.001 ) . The risk of relapse was 4.4 times higher for placebo- than for escitalopram-treated patients ( chi(2 ) test , chi(2 ) = 22.9 , df = 1 , p < 0.001 ) . Significantly fewer escitalopram-treated patients relapsed ( 9 % ) compared with placebo ( 33 % ) ( chi(2 ) test , chi(2 ) = 27.1 , df = 1 , p < 0.001 ) . Escitalopram was well tolerated with 53 patients ( 13 % ) withdrawn as a result of adverse events during the open-label period and three ( 2 % ) escitalopram-treated patients and six ( 4 % ) placebo-treated patients during double-blind treatment ( not significant ) . The overall withdrawal rate , excluding relapses , was 7.2 % for escitalopram and 8.5 % for placebo during the double-blind period ( not significant ) . CONCLUSION Escitalopram was effective in preventing  relapse of MDD in older patients and was well tolerated as continuation treatment
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 .