Escitalopram versus Citalopram for Patients with Depressive Disorder

OBJECTIVE:To discuss the efficacy and safety of Escitalopram in the treatment of patients with depressive disorder. METHODS: A total of 68 outpatients who were diagnosed as having depression based on CCMD-3 criteria were randomly assigned to receive escitalopram 10～20 mg·d~ -1 (n=34) or citalopram 20～50 mg·d~ -1 (n=34). Clinical efficacy was evaluated using HAMD and HAMA, and adverse reactions and safety were assessed with TESS and laboratory examination. The two groups were followed for 6 weeks. RESULTS: The effective rate was 70.6% and the cure rate was and 47. 1% for Escitalopram group versus 61.8% and 41.2% respectively for citalopram group, showing no significant differences between two groups. The main ADRs in Escitalopram-treated group were lack of appetite (11.8%), nausea (8.8%), dizziness (5.9%), and dry mouth (5.9%), nonsignificant as compared with Citalopram-treated group. The expulsion rate and the rate of loss of follow-up were 11.8% and 14.7%, respectively, showing no significance. CONCLUSION: Escitalopram is safe and effective for patients with depressive disorder, and its curative efficacy is similar to Citalopram but it has more rapid onset of drug effect than the latter.