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 .
Desvenlafaxine and escitalopram for the treatment of postmenopausal women with major depressive disorder
Objective : This study assessed the efficacy , safety , and tolerability of the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor desvenlafaxine and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor escitalopram for major depressive disorder ( MDD ) in postmenopausal women . Methods : In this r and omized , double-blind study , postmenopausal out patients ( aged 40 - 70 y ) with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fourth Edition MDD received flexible-dose desvenlafaxine ( 100 - 200 mg/d ) or escitalopram ( 10 - 20 mg/d ) for 8 weeks . Acute-phase responders , that is , women with a 50 % or greater reduction from baseline in the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( HAM-D17 ) total score , were eligible to continue the same double-blind treatment in the 6-month continuation phase . The primary efficacy outcomes were mean change from baseline in HAM-D17 total score ( acute phase ) , analyzed using a mixed-effects model for repeated measures , and the proportion of women who maintained response ( continuation phase ) , analyzed using logistic regression . Results : Reductions in HAM-D17 total score at acute-phase endpoint were similar for desvenlafaxine- and escitalopram-treated women ( −13.6 vs −14.3 , respectively ; P = 0.24 ) . No significant difference was observed between groups at continuation-phase endpoint in the proportion of women who maintained response ( desvenlafaxine , 82 % ; escitalopram , 80 % ; P = 0.70 ) . In both phases , desvenlafaxine and escitalopram  were generally safe and well tolerated . Conclusions : Among postmenopausal out patients with MDD , there were no significant differences in the efficacy of desvenlafaxine and escitalopram based on primary efficacy analyses . The results do not support the overall hypothesis that the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor desvenlafaxine has an efficacy advantage for the treatment of MDD in postmenopausal women because , in this particular subgroup , desvenlafaxine failed to prove superiority over escitalopram  . Safety and tolerability were comparable
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 .