Important differences exist between second generation antidepressants

BMJ 1995;311:751 (16 September)

Letters

Important differences exist between second generation antidepressants

EDITOR,--I M Anderson and B M Tomenson discuss the relative tolerability of second generation antidepressants and state: "However, they are of minor importance clinically in terms of numbers of prescriptions and, with regard to cost effectiveness analyses, many (for example, lofepramine and trazodone) are nearly as expensive as the serotonin reuptake inhibitors."¹ An article in a recent PACT Report dealt with the use ofantidepressants.² During analysis of prescribing data for thisarticle it was found that the use of lofepramine in particularwas not minimal. The use each quarter from 1992 to mid-1994 wasconsistently about 8 million defined daily doses written on200000 prescriptions. The usage of trazodone was much lower,0.6 million defined daily doses per quarter written on 40000prescriptions. For comparison, the use of fluoxetine duringthe same period rose from 4.8 million defined daily doses to11.6 million defined daily doses written on 140000 . . . [Full text of this article]

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Relevant Article

Treatment discontinuation with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors compared with tricyclic antidepressants: a meta-analysis: I M Anderson and B M Tomenson
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