Higher dose venlafaxine may improve response compared with standard doses in people with major depressive disorder and intolerance or non-responsiveness to SSRIs
Q What is the efficacy of higher doses of venlafaxine extended release compared with standard doses for treating adults with major depressive disorder who do not respond or cannot tolerate selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor therapy?
METHODS
Design:
Randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
Not clear.
Blinding:
Open label.
Follow up period:
Twelve weeks (treatment period only).
Setting:
Twenty two outpatient sites in the USA; time period not stated.
Patients:
232 adult outpatients (mean age 43) with major depressive disorder (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV) and a score ⩾14 on the 21 item Hamilton Depression Rating scale (HAM-D21) who had not previously taken venlafaxine. Participants had to have a lack of response or inability to tolerate an adequate trial of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) during their current depressive episode, within the last 6 months.
Intervention:
Standard dose venlafaxine extended release (ER) (titrated up to 75–150 mg/day) or higher dose venlafaxine ER (titrated up to 375 mg/day) …
