TY - JOUR
T1 - Efficacy, tolerability and side-effect profile of fluvoxamine for major depression
T2 - Meta-analysis
AU - Omori, I. M.
AU - Watanabe, N.
AU - Nakagawa, A.
AU - Akechi, T.
AU - Cipriani, A.
AU - Barbui, C.
AU - McGuire, H.
AU - Churchill, R.
AU - Furukawa, T. A.
PY - 2009/7
Y1 - 2009/7
N2 - Fluvoxamine, one of the oldest selective serotonin reuptaking inhibitors, is commonly prescribed to patients with major depression. Several studies have reviewed the efficacy and tolerability of fluvoxamine for the treatment of major depression. However, these reviews are outdated, have not been systematic and/or suffered from several methodological weaknesses. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize the best available evidence on the efficacy of fluvoxamine for adult patients suffering from major depression in comparison with other active antidepressive agents. Relevant randomized controlled trials were identified through a comprehensive search. The primary outcome was a relative risk of response, and the secondary outcome was a relative risk of remission. Tolerability and side-effect profile were also examined. Fifty-three trials were included. There were no large differences between fluvoxamine and any other antidepressants in terms of efficacy and tolerability. There is evidence of differing side effect profiles, especially when comparing gastrointestinal side effects between fluvoxamine and tricyclics. Clinicians should focus on practically or clinically relevant differences including those in side-effect profiles.
AB - Fluvoxamine, one of the oldest selective serotonin reuptaking inhibitors, is commonly prescribed to patients with major depression. Several studies have reviewed the efficacy and tolerability of fluvoxamine for the treatment of major depression. However, these reviews are outdated, have not been systematic and/or suffered from several methodological weaknesses. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize the best available evidence on the efficacy of fluvoxamine for adult patients suffering from major depression in comparison with other active antidepressive agents. Relevant randomized controlled trials were identified through a comprehensive search. The primary outcome was a relative risk of response, and the secondary outcome was a relative risk of remission. Tolerability and side-effect profile were also examined. Fifty-three trials were included. There were no large differences between fluvoxamine and any other antidepressants in terms of efficacy and tolerability. There is evidence of differing side effect profiles, especially when comparing gastrointestinal side effects between fluvoxamine and tricyclics. Clinicians should focus on practically or clinically relevant differences including those in side-effect profiles.
KW - Antidepressive agents
KW - Fluvoxamine
KW - Major depressive disorder
KW - Meta-analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67449159255&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0269881108089876
DO - 10.1177/0269881108089876
M3 - Article
C2 - 18562407
AN - SCOPUS:67449159255
SN - 0269-8811
VL - 23
SP - 539
EP - 550
JO - Journal of Psychopharmacology
JF - Journal of Psychopharmacology
IS - 5
ER -