A randomised study comparing escitalopram with venlafaxine XR in primary care patients with major depressive disorder

Montgomery SA. et al. Neuropsychobiology 2004; 50(1):57-64

This 8-week, randomised, double-blind study compared the efficacy and tolerability of escitalopram to that of venlafaxine XR in primary care patients with major depressive disorder. The efficacy of escitalopram (10– 20 mg; n = 148) was similar to venlafaxine xr (75–150 mg; n = 145), based on mean change from baseline to week 8 in Montgomery and Aasberg Depression Rating Scale total score. In ad hoc analyses, escitalopram treated patients achieved sustained remission significantly faster than did venlafaxine-treated patients. More venlafaxine-treated patients had nausea, constipation, and increased sweating (p ! 0.05). When treatment was completed after 8 weeks, significantly more venlafaxine treated patients had discontinuation symptoms (p < 0.01). Thus escitalopram treatment was similar to venlafaxine treatment with respect to efficacy and was better tolerated by patients in primary care.