EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY OF CITALOPRAM IN COMPARISON WITH FLUVOXAMINE IN DEPRESSED OUTPATIENTS - A DOUBLE-BLIND, MULTICENTER STUDY

In 16 depression clinics in hospitals and outpatient facilities in the Netherlands, a study was performed to evaluate and compare the effica cy and tolerability of citalopram and fluvoxamine and to determine the difference in the incidence of gastrointestinal side-effects. A total of 217 patients with a depressive disorder (DSM-III-R criteria) and a score of at least 16 on the Hamilton rating scale for depression were randomized to treatment. The results of this study indicate that the two drugs are equally effective. The adverse events occuring during tr eatment show a similar pattern between the two drugs, but citalopram i s better tolerated than fluvoxamine. Citalopram induces fewer gastroin testinal adverse events compared with fluvoxamine. However, this did n ot affect the drop-out rates.