Efficacy and safety of tianeptine in the treatment of depressive disorders in comparison with fluoxetine.

Loo H, Saiz-Ruiz J, Costa e Silva JACE, Ansseau M, Herrington R, Vaz-Serra A, Dilling H, de Risio S

Service Hospitalo Universitaire de Sante Mentale et de Therapeutique, Sainte-Anne Hospital, Paris, France.
J Affect Disord 1999 Dec;56(2-3):109-18

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Depression is treated by a great variety of antidepressant treatments. SSRIs (such as fluoxetine) are well known: it is, however, sure that further progress is needed and the search for antidepressants with other mechanisms of action (such as tianeptine) or different efficacy is still of interest. 

METHODS: A multinational study compared tianeptine with fluoxetine in 387 patients with Depressive Episode, or Recurrent Depressive Disorder, or Bipolar Affective Disorder (ICD-10), in a double-blind parallel group design. They were treated for six weeks. 

RESULTS: At inclusion, no significant difference between groups was shown.  Final MADRS scores were 15.7 and 15.8 with tianeptine and fluoxetine, respectively (ITT population) (p = 0.944). MADRS responders were 58% and 56% with tianeptine and fluoxetine, respectively (p = 0.710).  No statistical difference was observed for the other efficacy parameters.  Thirty-six withdrawals occurred in each group, without any difference for the reasons of discontinuation.  There was no major difference between groups for the other safety parameters. 

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, both tianeptine and fluoxetine exhibited a good efficacy and safety.

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