Author(s)

Mingyang Gou

Corresponding Author

Mingyang Gou

Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of escitalopram in the treatment of major depressive disorder in Chinese patients using meta-analysis. Methods: Randomized controlled trials of escitalopram in the treatment of depression were searched through Chinese databases, including VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Data. Then, the efficacy of escitalopram and other antidepressants was compared using meta-analysis, including their cure rate and adverse reactions. Furthermore, the fixed-effect model was used for the data. Results: No heterogeneity (I2 = 0%) was noted in the treatment effect, and no significant difference was observed in the efficacy of escitalopram in the treatment of depression in China compared with the control group [relative risk (RR), 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.89–1.56]. In each treatment group, eight major adverse reactions were found. Furthermore, the research revealed no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions (e.g., nausea, xerostomia, dizziness, insomnia, liver dysfunction, other gastrointestinal reactions, palpitations, and fatigue) between escitalopram and other antidepressants. Conclusions: The efficacy and safety of escitalopram were similar to those of other antidepressants (e.g., paroxetine, citalopram, flumipramine, fluoxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine); however, escitalopram was the most cost-effective drug overall.

Keywords

Major depression disorder (MDD); escitalopram; efficacy; adverse reactions; meta-analysis