Cipralex vs. paroxetine

Cipralex is significantly more efficacious than paroxetine in the long-term treatment of severely depressed patients.

Adjusted mean change from baseline to Week 24 in MADRS total score (ref.1)

(a) Adjusted mean change from baseline to Week 24 in MADRS total score (ITT, LOCF).

#Significantly different from paroxetine, p<0.05
Adapted from Boulenger JP et al. Curr Med Res Opin 2006

From week 8 onwards, Cipralex provides a significantly larger decrease in MADRS total score than paroxetine. (ref.1)

Adjusted mean change from baseline to Week 24 in MADRS total score in very severely depressed patients (ref.1)

(b) Adjusted mean change from baseline to Week 24 in MADRS total score for very severely
depressed patients (baseline MADRS total score ≥35) (ITT, LOCF) (adapted from Boulenger et al.,
2006).

#Significantly different from paroxetine, p<0.05
Adapted from Boulenger JP et al. Curr Med Res Opin 2006

For the very severely depressed patients (MADRS >=35) Cipralex has a significantly higher decrease of MADRS points than paroxetine onwards from week 4. (ref.1)

Complete remission (MADRS ≤5) rate (%) (ref.1)

Analysis of complete remission rates (defined as MADRS ≤5) for escitalopram versus paroxetine at last assessment (LOCF), by baseline severity analyses (adjusted for country instead of centre from MADRS ≥36, due to low patient numbers) (Boulenger et al., 2006).

# Significantly different from paroxetine, p<0.05
## Significantly different from paroxetine, p<0.01
### Significantly different from paroxetine, p<0.001

The higher the severity at baseline - the larger the difference between Cipralex and paroxetine. Significantly more Cipralex patients achieved symptom-free remission (MADRS<=5) than paroxetine patients. (ref.1)

References:

1. Boulenger JP et al. Curr Med Res Opin 2006;22(7):1331–41

Published: 24/07/2006 Last updated: 21/10/2011

Key publication

Boulenger 2006