Fixed-dose trial of the single isomer SSRI
escitalopram in depressed outpatients
by
Burke WJ, Gergel I, Bose A.
Department of Psychiatry,
University of Nebraska Medical Center,
Omaha 68198-5580, USA.
J Clin Psychiatry 2002 Apr;63(4):331-6

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Escitalopram is the single isomer responsible for the serotonin reuptake inhibition produced by the racemic antidepressant citalopram. The present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose multicenter trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of escitalopram in the treatment of major depressive disorder. METHOD: Outpatients with an ongoing DSM-IV major depressive episode (N = 491) were randomly assigned to placebo, escitalopram, 10 mg/day, escitalopram, 20 mg/day, or citalopram, 40 mg/day, and entered an 8-week double-blind treatment period following a 1-week single-blind placebo lead-in. Clinical response was evaluated by the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scales, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), and patient-rated quality-of-life scales. RESULTS: Escitalopram, at both doses, produced significant improvement at study endpoint relative to placebo on all measures of depression; significant separation of escitalopram from placebo was observed within I week of double-blind treatment. Citalopram treatment also significantly improved depressive symptomatology compared with placebo; however, escitalopram, 10 mg/day, was at least as effective as citalopram, 40 mg/day, at endpoint. Anxiety symptoms and quality of life were also significantly improved by escitalopram compared with placebo. The incidence of discontinuations due to adverse events for the escitalopram 10 mg/day group was not different from the placebo group (4.2% vs. 2.5%; p = .50), and not different for the escitalopram 20 mg/day group and the citalopram 40 mg/day group (10.4% vs. 8.8%; p = .83). CONCLUSION: Escitalopram, a single isomer SSRI, is well-tolerated and has demonstrated antidepressant efficacy at a dose of 10 mg/day.

Review
Neurogenesis
Chiral chimera?
Escitalopram (Lexapro)
Citalopram and ecstasy
SSRIs and panic disorder
Citalopram and selegiline
Citalopram v amitriptyline
Citalopram and depression
Citalopram and panic disorder
Serotonin and romantic lovers
Citalopram and eating disorders
Citalopram maintenance therapy
Citalopram and depression: trials
Big Pharma meets Madison Avenue
Citalopram: oral versus intravenous
Serotonin and the genetics of depression
Escitalopram (Lexapro): clinical pharmacokinetics
Escitalopram (Lexapro): mechanism of antidepressant action

Refs
and further reading

HOME
HedWeb
Nootropics
cocaine.wiki
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
MDMA/Ecstasy
Superhapiness?
Utopian Surgery?
The Abolitionist Project
The Hedonistic Imperative
The Reproductive Revolution
Critique of Huxley's Brave New World

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family