Escitalopram found more effective than Prozac in preventing depression relapse, reveals study

According to a BBC report, escitalopram has proven to be more effective than Prozac in preventing the resurgence of symptoms in depression patients. This was revealed in a major analysis published in 'The Lancet Psychiatry'. This study was conducted on nearly 10,000 people who were prescribed different medications and took them for a year.

The study found that escitalopram showed the best performance in protecting patients from relapse. In this list, two other drugs named agomelatine and duloxetine ranked second, while Prozac (also known as fluoxetine) ranked slightly lower. The research also noted that those taking escitalopram showed improvement in symptoms which was maintained, and they were also less likely to discontinue the medication. However, this analysis shows that other drugs, including sertraline, were not better than this.

This analysis compared the effectiveness of more than a dozen common antidepressants in total. However, experts say that these differences were modest and longer studies are still needed to get more information. Experts emphasize that these findings do not mean that everyone suffering from severe depression should switch to escitalopram, as all medications can work and each has its own pros and cons.

Depression is a common problem in the UK, affecting approximately one in six people. With proper treatment and support, people can recover well, although in some cases depression can return. To prevent relapse, doctors already recommend that people continue antidepressants for at least six months after depression subsides and then taper off slowly. In addition to medications, several treatment methods including talking therapy are available for depression.

Professor Erik Ruhe of Radboud University in the Netherlands states that the choice of medication can vary for each individual. Yet their study can help prescribers and patients make decisions together. Dr. Samir Jauhar of Imperial College London stated that the research provides useful information, but it cannot tell which medicine will work best for a specific patient. According to Professor Alan Young of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, some drugs show a small advantage for long-term outcomes, but the differences are modest.

Mental health charity 'Mind' says people need clear information about the potential benefits and side effects of antidepressants as well as other forms of support including talking therapy and mindfulness. It is also common for people to need to try more than one medication before finding the right treatment. Drugs like escitalopram can cause side effects such as sleep problems, constipation and weight gain, although not everyone experiences them. According to the NHS, if this medicine is ineffective, doctors may prescribe a different type of medicine such as an SNRI. Antidepressants increase the level of serotonin, which is linked to mood.

According to Wikipedia, escitalopram is an antidepressant medication belonging to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. This medication is widely prescribed around the world and has been placed among the first-line drugs in medical guidelines.