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 .
Faster Onset of Antidepressant Effects of Citalopram Compared With Sertraline in Drug-Naïve First-Episode Major Depressive Disorder in a Chinese Population: A 6-Week Double-Blind, Randomized Comparative Study
Several previous studies , including a meta- analysis , reported no significant differences between various selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) in the treatment of major depressive disorder . However , because of the different chemical structure of SSRIs and the difference in the frequency of serotonin transporter polymorphisms between ethnic groups , a head-to-head comparative study between SSRIs in different population s may be enlightening . We compared the efficacy and adverse effect profiles of citalopram and sertraline in a double-blinded r and omized clinical trial in a Chinese population of drug-naïve patients with first-episode major depressive disorder . Fifty-one patients were r and omly assigned to citalopram or sertraline treatment . The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) was used as the primary outcome . Efficacy and adverse effects were analyzed in an intent-to-treat population . Efficacy was analyzed using a last-observation-carried-forward method for early terminators . There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics at baseline . No significant differences were found in MADRS scores between citalopram and sertraline at baseline ( 36.6 ± 5.5 vs 38.2 ± 4.9 ; P = 0.322 ) or at the end of treatment ( week 6 ; 10.8 ± 10.0 vs 16.7 ± 11.3 ; P = 0.082 ) . However , MADRS scores in the citalopram group were significantly lower at week 1 ( 25.2 ± 8.5 vs 30.4 ± 6.1 ; P = 0.029 ) and week 3 ( 15.9 ± 10.0 vs 22.1 ± 8.7 ; P = 0.037 ) . Overall , treatment-emergent adverse effects were reported by 14.3 % and 28.6 % of patients in the citalopram and sertraline groups , respectively . In conclusion ,  citalopram  and sertraline were both efficacious and well tolerated . However , citalopram exhibited a significantly faster onset than sertraline during the early weeks of treatment and tended to have a better efficacy in overall treatment , although the statistic was not significant
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 .