Third-generation antidepressants: do they offer advantages over the SSRIs? -editorial-

Third-generation antidepressants are a group of antidepressant agents of variable action, not confined to serotonin reuptake inhibition. These agents include venlafaxine, reboxetine, nefazodone and mirtazapine. There appear to be no convincing differences between third-generation antidepressants and comparator agents in terms of overall efficacy, relapse prevention and speed of onset. Third- generation antidepressants are of equivalent safety to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and offer improvements in safety over first-generation. (author abstract)