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 .
The citalopram challenge test in patients with major depression and in healthy controls
Neuroendocrine challenge tests in depressed patients have revealed a blunted hormonal reaction to serotonergic stimuli . In the present study , citalopram was chosen as the serotonergic agent for neuroendocrine stimulation . Compared to earlier challenge agents , citalopram has the advantage of serotonergic selectivity , its application is well tolerated and the possibility of intravenous application reduces pharmacokinetic interference . Sixteen patients suffering from an acute episode of major depression and 16 healthy controls underwent the stimulation procedure with 20 mg of citalopram and placebo . Whereas significant differences in the secretion of prolactin and cortisol between citalopram and placebo challenge were observed in the control group , no differences were found in the group of depressed patients . Comparison of depressed patients and controls showed a significantly blunted prolactin secretion in patients . Differences in cortisol secretion following serotonergic stimulation with citalopram did not become significant . The stimulation procedure was well tolerated in all subjects , although a higher number of side effects was observed in the control group . The amount of side effects did not correlate with the hormone responses . These results are in line with the hypothesis of serotonergic hypofunction in depressed patients . In conclusion , the 20-mg citalopram challenge test is thought to be a promising tool for further investigation of serotonergic function in psychiatric illness
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 .