A comparative study of mirtazapine and fluoxetine in the treatment of post-stroke depression-anxiety disorder

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of mirtazapine and fluoxetine in the treatment of post-stroke depression-anxiety disorder.Methods A total of 53 patients with post-stroke depression-anxiety disorder were randomly divided into mirtazapine group and fluoxetine group for the treatment of 6 weeks.The efficacy were assessed by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA) and the safety was assessed by Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale(TESS) before the treatment and at the end of the first,second,forth,sixth week of treatment.Results The marked effective rates of mirtazapine group and fluoxetine group were 74.19% and 50% respectively,there had significant difference.The clinical efficacy of mirtazapine group was faster than that of fluoxetine group.Significant differences in scores of HAMA and factor scores of anxiety somatization and sleep disorder in HAMD were found between two groups.Mirtazapine group had significantly lower side effects than fluoxetine.Conclusion Mirtazapine is effective and safe in the treatment of post stroke depression anxiety disorder.