A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND, PARALLEL-GROUP COMPARISON OF VENLAFAXINE AND DOTHIEPIN IN GERIATRIC-PATIENTS WITH MAJOR DEPRESSION

This randomised, double-blind study conducted at nine sites in the UK and the Netherlands compared the safety and antidepressant efficacy of venlafaxine and dothiepin. Ninety-two geriatric patients (aged 64-87 years) with major depression were randomly assigned to receive either venlafaxine or dothiepin for up to 43 days. The dose of venlafaxine or dothiepin was titrated up to a maximum of 150 mg per day for the firs t 15 days, and thereafter could range from 50 to 150 mg per day. Adjus ted mean scores on the MADRS and the HAM-D decreased significantly (p 0.05) from baseline to the end of the study in both groups. A response to therapy was observed in 60% of patients in the venlafaxine group a nd 53% of patients in the dothiepin group on the MADRS, and in 60% of patients in both groups on the HAM-D. Suicidal ideation scores on the MADRS were significantly (p=0.042) lower in the venlafaxine group at w eek 6. Treatment-emergent study events were the primary reason for wit hdrawal in only 7% of venlafaxine-treated patients and 8% of dothiepin -treated patients. The results confirm the efficacy and tolerability o f venlafaxine for treating major depression in the elderly.