A. Diazmartinez et al., A RANDOMIZED, OPEN-LABEL COMPARISON OF VENLAFAXINE AND FLUOXETINE IN DEPRESSED OUTPATIENTS, Clinical therapeutics, 20(3), 1998, pp. 467-476
In this randomized, open-label, 8-week comparative study, the efficacy
and safety of venlafaxine and fluoxetine were assessed in outpatients
with major depression. One hundred forty-five patients were assigned
to receive venlafaxine 37.5 mg twice daily or fluoxetine 20 mg once da
ily. On day 15, if clinically indicated to improve patient response, t
he dosage could be increased at the investigator's discretion to venla
faxine 75 mg twice daily or fluoxetine 40 mg once daily. One hundred f
orty-five patients were evaluated for safety and 110, for efficacy. Th
e mean age was 37 years, and 70% of the patients were female. In both
treatment groups, mean scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
decreased significantly between baseline (27.8, venlafaxine; 29.2, flu
oxetine) and the end of the study (8.7, venlafaxine; 8.2, fluoxetine).
Similarly, mean scores on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Sca
le decreased significantly between baseline (31.4, venlafaxine; 31.6,
fluoxetine) and the end oi the study (8.3, venlafaxine; 7.6, fluoxetin
e). In venlafaxine patients, the most common adverse events were nause
a (44.3%), headache (40.0%), insomnia (31.4%), dizziness (30.0%), and
dry mouth (22.9%); in fluoxetine patients, they were headache (32.0%),
nausea (28.0%), insomnia (24.0%), anxiety (21.3%), sleepiness (20.0%)
, and generalized tremor (20.0%). The results of this study indicate t
hat venlafaxine is effective and well tolerated for the treatment of m
ajor depression at doses of 37.5 or 75 mg twice daily and not signific
antly different from fluoxetine 20 or 40 mg once daily.