A double-blind comparison of venlafaxine and fluoxetine in patients hospitalized for major depression and melancholia

Abstract

The antidepressant efficacy and short-term safety of venlafaxine and fluoxetine were compared in 68 patients hospitalized with major depression and melancholia. Venlafaxine was superior in efficacy to fluoxetine; total scores for both the MADRS and the HAM-D were significantly (p < or = 0.05) lower in the venlafaxine group than in the fluoxetine group at Weeks 4 and 6. Overall tolerance was similar for the two treatments.