Remission, dropouts, and adverse drug reaction rates in major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of head-to-head trials
by
Machado M, Iskedjian M, Ruiz I, Einarson TR.
Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile;
PharmIdeas Research and Consulting Inc.,
Oakville, ON, Canada.
Curr Med Res Opin. 2006 Sep;22(9):1825-37.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To summarize remission rates and dropouts due to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) or lack of efficacy (LoE) of serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in treating major depressive disorder.METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, IPA, and the Cochrane International Library from 1980-2005. Meta-analysis summarized outcomes from head-to-head randomized clinical trials comparing >/= 2 drugs from three antidepressants classes (SNRIs, and/or SSRIs, and/or TCAs) followed by >/= 6 weeks of treatment. Remission was a final Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) score 0.05 for SNRIs versus TCAs; p < 0.001 for TCAs versus SSRIs and SNRIs versus SSRIs). When categorized as inpatients (n = 582) and outpatients (n = 1613), SNRIs had the highest remission rates (52.0% for 144 inpatients and 49.3% for 559 outpatients). SNRIs had lowest overall dropouts (26.1%), followed by SSRIs (28.4%), and TCAs (35.7%). Dropouts due to ADRs and LoE were 10.3% and 6.2% for SNRIs, 8.3% and 7.2% for SSRIs, and 19.8% and 9.9% for TCAs, respectively (p > 0.05 for ADR dropouts only). One limitation was the inclusion of only venlafaxine-XR; results may not be the same for immediate release forms. In addition, few studies reported remission rates.CONCLUSIONS: SNRIs had the highest efficacy remission rates (statistically significant for inpatients and outpatients), and the lowest overall dropout rates, suggesting clinical superiority in treating major depression.

TCAs
SSRIs
RIMAs
Options
Bupropion
Amineptine
Nefazodone
Mirtazapine
Venlafaxine
21st Century
The long wait?
Antidepressants
Chronic depression
Atypical depression
Retarded depression
An individualised approach
Antidepressant metabolism
Old and new antidepressants
Are antidepressants overrated?
Antidepressants and cell growth
Mood-brighteners and antidepressants
Antidepressant augmentation strategies
Active placebos v antidepressants for depression
Are SSRI antidepressants little better than placebos?
Does early improvement triggered by antidepressants predict response/remission?
Selective publication of clinical trials leads to unrealistic estimates of antidepressant efficacy

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