Anxiety

A new meta-analysis provides evidence for which anti-depressants work most effectively for treating major depression.

Major depression has a lifetime prevalence of 10-25% for women and 5-12% for men, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV-TR (2000). An individual suffering from major depression may experience feelings of sadness, guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness, lack of interest or pleasure in most, if not all, activities, suicidal ideation, thoughts of death, sleeping too much or too little, gaining or losing weight (appetite changes), an inability to concentrate, an inability to make decisions, and/or lack of energy or feeling fatigued.

Anti-depressants are often utilized to treat episodes of major depression as well as major depressive disorder. While there are many choices for anti-depressant therapy on the market today, a new study indicates which may be most effective and best tolerated by those suffering from depression.

A meta-analysis was conducted involving 117 studies from 1991-2007 with 25,928 participants.

The results indicate Zoloft (sertraline), Lexepro (escitalopram), Remeron (mirtazapine), and Effexor (venlafaxine) wee significantly more effective at treating depression than the other anti-depressants studied, which included: Eli Lily’s Cymbalta and Prozac, GlaxoSmithKline’s Paxil, Solvay’s Luvox, and Pfizer’s Edronax. Additionally, in general, Zoloft and Lexepro were found to be most effective after eight weeks of treatment and had the lowest dropout rates during the studies.

The researchers assert Zoloft may be the best choice for an anti-depressant for someone who is just beginning treatment due to its effectiveness, being well tolerated, and its cost-effectiveness. Zoloft is available in generic form. Effexor and Remeron are also available in generic form.

It is important to note the meta-analysis did not look at other aspects of anti-depressants for this study, including a person’s ability to function socially on the medication, side effects of the medication, and cost-effectiveness.

Sagar Parikh, a psychiatrist at the University of Toronto wrote in a commentary in the journal Lancet, “Now a clinician can identify the four best treatments, identify individual side effect profiles, explore costs and patients’ preferences, and collaborate in identifying the best treatment.”

Source:

Psych Central: Lexepro and Zoloft Top Treatments for Depression

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