Citation

Alves C, Cachola I, Brandao J. Primary Care Psychiatry 1999; 5(2): 57-63.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This was a 12 week, double-blind, randomized comparison of venlafaxine and fluoxetine in out-patients with major depression. Patients with a baseline 21-item HAM-D score of at least 20 were assigned to venlafaxine (75 mg/day) or fluoxetine (20 mg/day). From day 15, the doses could be increased to 150 mg/day venlafaxine or 40 mg/day fluoxetine. Efficacy was assessed with the HAM-D, MADRS and CGI scales. Forty patients were randomized to venlafaxine and 47 to fluoxetine. The mean HAM-D and MADRS scores decreased from baseline in both groups; however the decreases were significantly (P < 0.05) greater with venlafaxine than fluoxetine at weeks 1-4. Similarly, significant differences in favour of venlafaxine were noted at weeks 2 and 4 on the CGI severity scale and at weeks 1, 2 and 4 on the CGI improvement scale. Venlafaxine produced a more rapid reduction in suicide ideation scores on the HAM-D and MADRS scales compared with fluoxetine. The final on-therapy response rates on the MADRS scale were 89% with venlafaxine and 74% with fluoxetine and on the HAM-D scale were 87% with venlafaxine and 74% with fluoxetine. A HAM-D remission score ≤ 8 was recorded in 51% of patients on venlafaxine and 41% on fluoxetine. Adverse events were observed in 56% of venlafaxine-treated and 51% of fluoxetine-treated patients. The most common adverse event was nausea with both treatments. Venlafaxine was effective in the treatment of major depression with significant treatment differences from fluoxetine noted as early as week 1 of therapy.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; agitation; anxiety neurosis; article; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; depression; double blind procedure; drug efficacy; drug tolerability; female; fluoxetine; Fluoxetine; human; insomnia; major clinical study; Major depression; male; nausea; outpatient; priority journal; psychosis; randomized controlled trial; rating scale; remission; Remission; suicide attempt; venlafaxine; Venlafaxine