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Pharmacopsychiatry 2018; 51(04): 148-152
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-122077
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Is Venlafaxine More Effective than Escitalopram and Nortriptyline in the Management of Painful Symptoms in Patients with Major Depression?

Jan Jaracz
1   Department of Adult Psychiatry, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
,
Karolina Gattner
1   Department of Adult Psychiatry, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
,
Krystyna Jaracz
2   Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Nursing, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
,
Krystyna Górna
2   Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Nursing, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
,
Jerzy Moczko
3   Department of Computer Science and Statistics Poznań University of Medical Sciences Poznań, Poland
,
Joanna Hauser
4   Department of Psychiatric Genetics, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 26 April 2017
revised 30 August 2017

accepted 23 October 2017

Publication Date:
15 November 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Background Conflicting data regarding the efficacy of antidepressants of different mechanism of action on unexplained painful physical symptoms (UPPS) in depression have been published so far.

Objective The aim of this study was to compare the impact of escitalopram (ESC), nortriptyline (NOR), and venlafaxine (VEN) on UPPS in patients with major depression.

Materials and methods Sixty patients, participants in the GENDEP study, with a diagnosis of depression according to the ICD-10 criteria were randomly assigned to treatment with ESC (10–30 mg, mean dose 15.2, standard deviation [SD]±9.2) or NOR (50–150 mg, mean dose 106.2, SD±8.2). Additionally, 30 patients who were treated with VEN (75–225 mg, mean dose 181.3, SD±8.8) were included. Before inclusion (day 0) and throughout the study (days 14, 28, 42, 56), the severity of pain was monitored using the visual analog scale.

Results The patients treated with ESC, NOR, and VEN did not differ in the intensity of pain at days 0, 14, 28, 42, and 56.

Conclusion Our results do not support the hypothesis suggesting the superiority of VEN over ESC and NOR in the management of UPPS in major depression.

Key words

unexplained painful physical symptoms - major depression - nortriptyline - escitalopram - venlafaxine
 

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