MIRTAZAPINE AND FLUOXETINE IN THE TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of mirtazapine and fluoxetine in the treatment of depression.Method 70 patients with depression were randomly treated with mirtazapine or fluexetine for 6 weeks(each group 35 patients).Evaluate the efficacy with HAMD.Measured the safety with TESS,physical and laboratory examinations at the baseline,the first weekend,the second weekend,the forth weekend and the sixth weekend.Result ①The scores of HAMD for both groups were obviously decreased after treatment(p0.001).②HAMD,the scores of anxiety,depression in mirtazapine group were statistically lower than those in fluoxetine group at the first weekend(p0.05).The differences became insignificant at the end of the trial.③The response rates and cure rateof mirtazapine and fluoxetine were 82.9%,68.6% and 80%,65.7%respectively.④Safety measures were not significantly different between two groups(p0.05).Conclusion Mirtazapine is safe and effective in the treatment of depression,and its effect appears earlier than that of fluoxetine.