Effects of milnacipran and paroxetine on anxiety state and headache severity of patients with generalized anxiety disorder / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To compare the effects of milnacipran and paroxetine on anxiety state and headache severity of patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).Methods:Ninety-six patients with GAD treated in Zaozhuang Mental Health Center from January 2019 to September 2020 were selected and randomly divided into the paroxetine group (treatment with oral paroxetine) and the milnacipran group (treatment with oral milnacipran), each group with 48 cases. A course of treatment consists of 4 weeks. After 3 months of regular medication, the clinical efficacy, Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, migraine-specific quality of life questionnaire (MSQ V2.1) scores, and Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) scores were compared between the two groups. Adverse reactions during the treatment were recorded in both groups.Results:The total effective rate in the milnacipran group at 4 weeks and 3 months after treatment were significantly higher than those in the paroxetine group 47.92%(23/48) vs. 22.92%(11/48), χ2 = 6.56, P<0.05; 75.00%(36/48) vs. 51.47%(26/48), χ2 = 4.55, P<0.05. After treatment for 4 weeks and 3 months, the HAMA scores, VAS scores, MSQ V2.1 scores and HIT-6 scores in the milnacipran group were significantly lower than those in the paroxetine group ( P<0.05). The difference of incidence of adverse reactions in the two groups had no statistical significance ( P>0.05). Conclusions:For patients with GAD, the treatment effect of milnacipran is more significant than paroxetine, which can not only reduce patients′ anxiety state and headache degree, but also improve their specific quality of life, with high safety.