A DOUBLE-BLIND COMPARISON OF VENLAFAXINE AND FLUOXETINE FOR TREATMENTOF MAJOR DEPRESSION IN OUTPATIENTS

1. This was a randomized, double-blind comparison of the efficacy and safety of venlafaxine and fluoxetine in outpatients with major depress ion. 2. Three hundred fourteen patients were randomly assigned to eith er venlafaxine 37.5 mg twice daily or fluoxetine 20 mg once daily for a maximum of 8 weeks.3. If the response was inadequate after two weeks of treatment, the dosage of venlafaxine could be increased to 75 mg t wice daily. 4. A clinical response, defined as at least a 50% decrease from baseline in the total HAM-D score, was attained at week 6 in 72% of patients on venlafaxine and 60% of patients on fluoxetine (p = 0.0 23). 5. Among patients who increased their dose at 2 weeks, venlafaxin e was significantly (p < 0.05) superior from week 3 onward on the HAM- D. 6. Venlafaxine 75 mg daily is comparable to fluoxetine, but at 150 mg daily, it may be superior to fluoxetine in outpatients with major d epression who do not respond early to treatment.