Abstract

TORO, Ricardo José; VENGOECHEA, Jaime  and  GONZALEZ, César. OPEN STUDY ON ACCEPTABILITY, EFFICACY AND TOLERANCE OF VENLAFAXINE IN DEPRESSIVE OUT PATIENTS. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 1999, vol.28, n.1, pp.35-44. ISSN 0034-7450.

Objectives: phase IV study undertaken to evaluate efficacy and safety of venlafaxine in depressed outpatients and to gather information on subjective evaluation of symptoms of depression. Methods: 235 depressed outpatients were enrolled in the study. They were older than 18, met the inclusion and exclusion ichteria, and the severity of their depression ranged from mild to severe, according to scores obtained with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) through 6 weeks of therapy. A Clinical Global Impression was also obtained. Results: Hamilton Depression Scale scores sustainedly decreased after first clinica/visit, starting with an average of 28.9 and ending with 7.1 on visit number 5. Global clinical improvement was specially notable at second and third weeks of treatment, being recovery of the condition statistically significant. Vital signs did not change significantly during the trial. Most frequent side-effect were: nausea, dizziness and dry mouth. Side-effects decreased in incidence and severity with duration of treatment. Conclusion: Venlafaxine showed antidepressive efficacy in outpatients, with an average dose of 75 mg daily (range: 37.5 to 225 mg). These therapeutic effects were statistically significant, with an acceptable tolerance.

Keywords : Depressive disorders; antidepressant agents.

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