Your browser version may not work well with NCBI's Web applications. More information here...
1: Br J Psychiatry. 1999 Jul;175:12-6.Links
Erratum in:
Br J Psychiatry 1999 Oct;175:394.
Comment in:
Br J Psychiatry. 1999 Dec;175:591.
Br J Psychiatry. 1999 Oct;175:390-1.
Br J Psychiatry. 2000 Apr;176:398.

Venlafaxine and paroxetine in treatment-resistant depression. Double-blind, randomised comparison.

SHU-Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Paris.

BACKGROUND: About one-third of patients fail to respond to initial antidepressant therapy, which suggests a need for more effective drugs. AIMS: To compare the efficacy and safety of venlafaxine and paroxetine in 122 patients with non-chronic treatment-resistant depression. METHOD: In-patients or out-patients satisfying DSM-III-R criteria for major depression in evolution for less than eight months, having a baseline HAM-D score > or = 18 and a HAM-D Item 3 score < 3 were eligible. Patients were required to have a history of resistance to two previous antidepressant treatments and a CGI improvement score of 3 at the beginning of treatment. Doses were adjusted to 200-300 mg/day for venlafaxine and 30-40 mg/day for paroxetine. RESULTS: For the observed-case analysis, the response rate was 51.9% for venlafaxine and 32.7% for paroxetine (P = 0.044), and a remission was achieved in 42.3% of venlafaxine-treated and 20.0% of paroxetine-treated patients (P = 0.01). The incidence of adverse effects was comparable between treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Venlafaxine showed some evidence of superiority to paroxetine in this difficult-to-treat patient population.

PMID: 10621762 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Patient Drug Information

  • Paroxetine (Paxil® , Paxil® CR, Pexeva® )

    Paroxetine tablets, suspension (liquid), and extended-release (long-acting) tablets are used to treat depression, panic disorder (sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks), and social anxi...

  • Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin XL, ...)

    How do the newer antidepressants compare in treating depression?

  • Venlafaxine (Effexor® , Effexor® XR)

    Venlafaxine is used to treat depression. Venlafaxine extended-release (long-acting) capsules are also used to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; excessive worrying that is difficult to control), social anxiety diso...