Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

BACKGROUND: In the last ten years, SSRIs have increasingly replaced TCAs as comparators of newer antidepressants (ADs), because of their better tolerability profile. In particular, fluoxetine has become a reference drug for the treatment of depression, but the occurrence of individual side effects in depressed subjects treated with fluoxetine and each comparator AD have not been systematically investigated. METHODS: This meta-analysis investigated the frequency of side effects induced by fluoxetine or alternative ADs and compared the occurrence of individual side effects in depressed subjects. All randomised clinical trials (RCTs) comparing fluoxetine with any other AD drug in patients with major depression were located by searching the Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Controlled Trials Register and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. Two reviewers independently extracted information. RESULTS: Significantly less percentage of patients treated with fluoxetine experienced any side effects in comparison with TCAs (50.9 % vs 60.3 %, 29 RCTs; RR = 0.84, p = 0.003), but not in comparison with other SSRIs (59.4 % vs 59.3 %, 15 RCTs; RR = 1.00, p = 0.902). In addition, fluoxetine was better tolerated in comparison with TCAs and related ADs (RR 0.61, 95 % CI 0.52, 0.71), but not in comparison with other SSRIs. Regard to individual side effects, activating (insomnia, agitation, tremor and anxiety) and gastrointestinal adverse events (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and anorexia) were significantly more frequent in fluoxetine-treated patients, whereas cholinergic side effects were significantly less frequent. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoxetine compared to other ADs had more activating and gastrointestinal adverse effects, which often require additional pharmacotherapy or other managements strategies, leading to discontinuation and non-compliance and increasing the costs. This information is relevant to base on evidence the prescription of ADs in everyday clinical practice.

Original publication

DOI

10.1055/s-2005-837806

Type

Journal article

Journal

Pharmacopsychiatry

Publication Date

03/2005

Volume

38

Pages

69 - 77

Keywords

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic, Depressive Disorder, Major, Drug Tolerance, Fluoxetine, Gastrointestinal Tract, Humans, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors