The effectiveness of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) in treating symptoms of depression has been compared.

A study published in the Biological Psychiatry considered newer SNRI drugs (venlafaxine) and more established SSRI treatments (fluoxetine and citalopram).

Meta-analysis on both antidepressant classes was carried out by pooling the results of 34 double-bind randomised controlled trials comparing venlafaxine to SSRIs.

"Venlafaxine was superior to SSRIs in efficacy overall, and moreover, statistically superior to fluoxetine but not to paroxetine, sertraline or citalopram," Dr Charles Nemeroff, senior author on the paper stated.

"Venlafaxine had a higher dropout rate due to adverse events."

The findings indicated a 5.9 per cent advantage in remission rates for venlafaxine.

A typical doctor would need to treat 17 patients to have a single patient benefit from being treated with venlafaxine rather than an SSRI, the study reports.

While this seems a small advantage, John H Krystal, editor of Biological Psychiatry believed the study "highlights an advance that may have more importance for public health than for individual doctors and patients".

Optimal use of existing medications may improve general public health despite the small difference for individual doctors and patients, he added.

Click here for EPG Online physician's tools including disease awareness, diagnosis tools, treatment options and management guidance

• Study highlights lack of sleep and exercise as cancer risk 18/11/08
• Doctors warned over pre-eclampsia risk in pregnant women 05/11/08
• Yoghurt found to reduce cancer risk 17/10/08
• Gender link explored in CHD research 14/10/08
• Additional testing may improve breast cancer risk assessment 29/07/08

• TRITACE Tablets - 24.72%
  ... more who have one or more of the following clinical findings: hypertension (systolic blood pressure> 160mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > 90mmHg); high total cholesterol (>5.2 mmol/L); low HDL (<0.9 mmol/L); current smoker; known microalbuminuria; clinical evidence of previous vascular disease ...
  
  
• TRITACE Titration Pack - 24.36%
  ... who have one or more of the following clinical findings: hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 160mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > 90mmHg); high total cholesterol (>5.2 mmol/L); low HDL (<0.9 mmol/L); current smoker; known microalbuminuria; clinical evidence of previous vascular disease. Oral ...
  
  
• BETAFERON - 23.54%
  ... of clinical relapses in ambulatory patients, who have had at least two attacks of neurological dysfunction in the preceding two years followed by complete or incomplete recovery. Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis - Slowing progression of disease and reduction in frequency of clinical relapses ...
  
  
• LOCOID Ointment - 22.5%
  The product is recommended for clinical use in the treatment of conditions responsive to topical corticosteroids e.g. eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis. Topical corticosteroids are not generally indicated in psoriasis but may be acceptable in psoriasis excluding widespread plaque psoriasis provided ...
  
  
• NAGLAZYME Solution for Infusion - 22.5%
  ... it is of primary importance, especially in severe forms, to initiate treatment as early as possible, before appearance of non-reversible clinical manifestations of the disease. A key issue is to treat young patients aged <5 years suffering from a severe form of the disease, even though patients <5 ...
  
  
• ELAPRASE Solution for Infusion - 22.5%
  Elaprase is indicated for the long-term treatment of patients with Hunter syndrome (Mucopolysaccharidosis II, MPS II). Heterozygous females were not studied in the clinical trials ...