The clinical efficacy of reboxetine in the treatment of depression

Reboxetine is a unique selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibiting drug. In a series of multinational studies, it has been shown that reboxetine posse sses an antidepressant action significantly superior to that of placebo, an d at least as marked as the effects produced by fluoxetine, imipramine and desipramine. It is also significantly more effective than fluoxetine in tre ating patients with severe depression. Antidepressant effects produced in t he short term (4-6 weeks) are maintained over the longer term, and at least up to 12 months. Fewer relapses are seen in patients treated with reboxeti ne, and more of such patients remain in remission, than amongst those recei ving placebo. There are case reports of patients responding to reboxetine t reatment after having been refractory to treatment with other antidepressan ts. Reboxetine has proved effective in severe major depressive illness in e lderly patients as well as amongst young and middle-aged adults, though its use in elderly patients is not currently included in its licensed indicati ons. It is therefore clear that reboxetine offers a major new treatment for depression in a wide range of clinical contexts.