Comparative Effectiveness of Second-Generation Antidepressants in the Pharmacologic Treatment of Adult Depression
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
From press release:

Today’s most commonly prescribed antidepressants are similar in effectiveness to each other but differ when it comes to possible side effects, according to an analysis released today by the Department of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

The findings, based on a review of nearly 300 published studies of second-generation antidepressants, show that about six in 10 adult patients get some relief from the drugs. About six in 10 also experience at least one side effect, ranging from nausea to sexual dysfunction.

Patients who don’t respond to one of the drugs often try another medication within the same class. About one in four of those patients recover, according to the review. Overall, current evidence on the drugs is insufficient for clinicians to predict which medications will work best for individual patients.

Second-generation antidepressants, which include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), are often prescribed because first-generation antidepressants (such as tricyclic antidepressants, or TCAs) can cause intolerable side effects and carry high risks.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 24th, 2007 at 8:55 pm and is filed under Diseases and conditions, Health and healthcare, Mental health and substance abuse, Prescription drugs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.