Are All Anti-depressants created equally?

Historically, it has been reported that the overall effectiveness of the newer and older anti-depressants were all about equally effective, differing in their side effects. A very recent article in The Lancet disputes this, comparing the effectiveness of 12 of the newer anti-depressants for Major Depression in adults. It looked at side effects, as well.

A summary of their findings found the following to be more effective:

Remeron
Lexapro
Effexor
Zoloft

They also reported the following to be less effective:

Cymbalta
Prozac
Luvox
Paxil
Edronax (least efficacious)

Lexapro and Zoloft were found to have significantly fewer discontinuations due to side effects.

This does NOT mean that if you are taking one of medications found to be "less effective" and it is working, that you should change. Nor does it mean if you are taking one of the "more effective" medications and are having difficult side effects, that you need to continue that medication.

Any medication is the Best medication for one person and the Worst for another. It is imperative that you consult and work closely with your prescribing physician.

An earlier post of mine Drugs vs. Therapy (9/5/08) compared the effectiveness of each. Here is a summary:

Many of the studies with depression, even severe depression, show them to be about equally effective. Therapy has been shown to have greater durability, with lower relapse rates following the end of treatment. There are also lower drop-out rates for therapy, due to medication side-effects. It is common practice for people to receive both treatments. One might think this to be more potent than either treatment by themselves. Some studies do support this, but other studies do not.

Best wishes,
Mike

For a Summary of the article: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)60046-5/fulltext