Reboxetine: a double-blind comparison with fluoxetine in major depressive disorder

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of rebox etine, a uniquely selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, with the sele ctive serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine. A double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, multicentre design was employed. One hundred and sixty-eig ht patients with acute major depressive episodes were randomized to receive oral reboxetine (8-10 mg/day) or oral fluoxetine (20-40 mg/day). The treat ment period was 8 weeks. Reboxetine and fluoxetine were similarly effective as assessed by the mean reduction in total Hamilton Depression Rating Scal e score, the percentage of responders and patients in remission, Clinical G lobal Impression severity of illness and global improvement scores and Mont gomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. A sub-analysis of patients with seve re depression indicated that reboxetine had superior efficacy compared with fluoxetine. Both treatments resulted in some improvement in Social Adaptat ion Self-evaluation Scale total scores and this was more evident for those patients treated with reboxetine who achieved remission. Both treatments we re well tolerated. The results indicate that reboxetine is an effective and well tolerated antidepressant, being more effective than fluoxetine in pat ients with severe depression, and more effective in terms of social functio ning in those patients who achieved remission. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 14: 73-80 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.