Citation

Zohar J. Primary Care Psychiatry 2004; 9(4): 115-119.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004)

DOI

10.1185/135525704X15020

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Approximately one-third of depressed patients suffer from severe depression The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have clear advantages over the tricyclic antidepressants with regard to their safety and tolerability profile. However, there is some debate as to whether they are as effective as the tricyclic antidepressants for the treatment of severe depression. The efficacy of fluvoxamine has been documented and has been shown to be more effective than placebo and at least as effective as imipramine, clomipramine, amitriptyline, desipramine and amineptine in patients with severe depression. Since SSRIs have a better tolerability profile, are safe in overdose, and some of them (e.g. fluvoxamine) have been found to be as effective as tricyclic antidepressants in severe depression, they might be considered as a first option in the treatment of depression, including severe depression. © 2004 Librapharm Limited.

Language: en

Keywords

human; suicide; insomnia; depression; Severe depression; clinical trial; disease severity; drug overdose; review; Fluvoxamine; amitriptyline; citalopram; clomipramine; desipramine; fluvoxamine; imipramine; paroxetine; serotonin uptake inhibitor; sertraline; tricyclic antidepressant agent; venlafaxine; xerostomia; priority journal; anxiety disorder; constipation; gastrointestinal symptom; reboxetine; cardiotoxicity; drug safety; placebo; heart muscle conduction disturbance; seizure; drug efficacy; drug tolerability; nausea; tremor; sweating; drug megadose; side effect; milnacipran; tinnitus; anticholinergic effect; dizziness; accommodation; amblyopia; amineptine; eye disease; Selective serotonin inhibitors