Conclusion Fluoxetine was not statistically different in either tolerability or efficacy when compared with duloxetine .
Venlafaxine was significantly superior to duloxetine in all analyses except dropout rate .
In the absence of relevant data from head-to-head comparison trials , results suggest that venlafaxine is superior compared with duloxetine and that duloxetine does not differentiate from fluoxetine
Background Data comparing duloxetine with existing antidepressant treatments is limited .
A comparison of duloxetine with fluoxetine has been performed but no comparison with venlafaxine , the other antidepressant in the same therapeutic class with a significant market share , has been undertaken .
In the absence of relevant data to assess the place that duloxetine should occupy in the therapeutic arsenal , indirect comparisons are the most rigorous way to go .
We conducted a systematic review of the efficacy of duloxetine , fluoxetine and venlafaxine versus placebo in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder ( MDD ) , and performed indirect comparisons through meta-regressions .
A comparison of venlafaxine, trazodone, and placebo in major depression.
A double-blind , placebo-controlled trial was undertaken to compare the safety and efficacy of venlafaxine and trazodone in patients with major depression . Two hundred twenty-five patients entered an initial 6-week treatment phase , and 149 completed it . Ninety-six patients who were responders continued in a 1-year , double-blind , long-term phase during which they received the same medication and doses they had during the short-term phase . Both active treatments were significantly more effective than placebo on some measures during the short-term study , but venlafaxine produced more improvement in the cognitive disturbance and retardation factors on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression .  Trazodone was more effective against the sleep disturbance factor . Patients on venlafaxine were most likely to enter the long-term phase and to remain in the trial longest . The side effect profiles of the three treatment groups were compared . Venlafaxine was most likely to cause nausea , whereas trazodone was associated with the most dizziness and somnolence
Conclusion Fluoxetine was not statistically different in either tolerability or efficacy when compared with duloxetine .
Venlafaxine was significantly superior to duloxetine in all analyses except dropout rate .
In the absence of relevant data from head-to-head comparison trials , results suggest that venlafaxine is superior compared with duloxetine and that duloxetine does not differentiate from fluoxetine
Background Data comparing duloxetine with existing antidepressant treatments is limited .
A comparison of duloxetine with fluoxetine has been performed but no comparison with venlafaxine , the other antidepressant in the same therapeutic class with a significant market share , has been undertaken .
In the absence of relevant data to assess the place that duloxetine should occupy in the therapeutic arsenal , indirect comparisons are the most rigorous way to go .
We conducted a systematic review of the efficacy of duloxetine , fluoxetine and venlafaxine versus placebo in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder ( MDD ) , and performed indirect comparisons through meta-regressions .