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 in the long-term treatment of major depressive disorder.
BACKGROUND Escitalopram has been proven safe and efficacious in the treatment of major depressive disorder ( MDD ) in short-term studies . The long-term clinical tolerability and response to treatment are presented from a 12-month open-label study with a total exposure time to escitalopram of 486 patient years . METHODS Patients ( n = 590 ) with MDD entered the study after completing one of two 8-week , double-blind , placebo-controlled , lead-in studies in primary care . Escitalopram was administered at doses of 10 or 20 mg/day ( dose based on physician 's clinical judgement ) with an average exposure to escitalopram of 315 days . The primary efficacy parameter was the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) total score . RESULTS The overall withdrawal rate was 26 % ; and the withdrawal rate due to adverse events was 9 % . The most common adverse events were headache , back pain , upper respiratory tract infection , rhinitis and nausea , with an incidence ranging from 11 % to 17 % . No new types of adverse events were seen after the acute period of 8 weeks , and the incidence declined with time . At baseline ( entry into the 12-month study ) , patients had a mean MADRS total score of 14.2 , which decreased to 10.5 after 8 weeks and 7.2 after 52 weeks ( LOCF ) . The percentage of patients in remission ( MADRS total score < /=12 ) increased from 46 % at baseline to 65 % by Week 8 and 86 % by Week 52 . CONCLUSIONS Escitalopram ( 10 to 20 mg/day ) demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile over 12-months treatment , with further improvement in patient response
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 .