A clinical study of combined Rhizoma Polygonati and fluoxetine in the treatment of depression

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy and adverse reaction of combined rhizoma polygonati and fluoxetine in the treatment of depression.Methods Sixty depressed patients involved in this study were randomized into combined rhizoma polygonati and fluoxetine group(n=30)and fluoxetine group(n=30),studied for 6 weeks.Clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were assessed with Hamilton depression rating scale(HAMD)before and 2nd week,4th week and 6th week after the treatment.Results(1)After the 6-week treatment,HAMD scores of each group decreased dramatically as compared to pretreatment(P0.01);(2)After 2nd week and 4th week treatment,the total HAMD-24 score decreased significantly more in combined group than in the fluoxetine group(P0.05);(3)After the 6-week treatment,there was no significant difference in the efficacy between the combined group and fluoxetine group(P0.05);(4)the severity of adverse reactions in combined group was lighter than that in fluoxetine group,which had significant difference.Conclusion Combined rhizoma polygonati is a highly effective and safe treatment for depression.Combined group was significantly more effective than fluoxetine group in improving depression and has few adverse reaction.