Alprazolam and standard antidepressants in the treatment of depression: a meta-analysis of the antidepressant effect.
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-45038
ABSTRACT
Alprazolam differs from other benzodiazepines by the incorporation of a triazolo ring in the basic chemical structure. Several lines of evidence have supported that alprazolam and standard antidepressants have some similar actions, such as beta-adrenergic receptor down-regulation, antipanic effect. Because of the difference in opinions pertaining to the antidepressant effect of alprazolam, this issue could not reach a firm conclusion. In the present analysis, we carried out a meta-analysis of 11 random controlled studies that compared the antidepressant effect of alprazolam and standard antidepressants in depressed patients. The results showed that the weighted mean effect size d (dw) is equal to 0.06. In conclusion, the antidepressant effect of alprazolam is comparable to that of low-dose tricyclic antidepressants. Very few studies have investigated severely depressed patients. Also, in long-term administration, the lack of a long-term treatment study makes the issue of alprazolam's benefits and disadvantages still undetermined.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Anti-Anxiety Agents
/
Alprazolam
/
Humans
/
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
/
Depressive Disorder
/
Antidepressive Agents
Type of study:
Controlled clinical trial
/
Systematic reviews
Language:
English
Year:
1997
Type:
Article
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