Research article summary (published 27 Feb 2007):

Venlafaxine-mirtazapine combination in the treatment of persistent depressive illness.

Full Abstract

The combination of mirtazapine and venlafaxine has been suggested as a treatment option for difficult to treat depressive illness. We describe 32 patients with persistent depressive illness (44% male; mean age 42 years; mean 2.5 previous antidepressant trials) that received mirtazapine and venlafaxine in combination at some point over the 3 year period between 2002 and 2005. Clinical response rates (CGI-improvement score of two or less) were 44% at 4 weeks and 50% at 8 weeks. At 6 month review, 18 patients (56% of the original cohort and 75% of those still receiving treatment) had significantly responded. Clinical response typically occurred at moderate and high dose treatment with both agents. A total of 44% experienced some adverse effects with sedation (19%) and weight gain (19%) most frequent. Five patients discontinued treatment due to these effects. No serious adverse effects were linked to the combination treatment. We discuss the implications of these findings for the use of venlafaxine and mirtazapine in combination in more difficult to treat patients with depression.

Author information

Author/s: Hannan, Noel (N); Hamzah, Zaf (Z); Akinpeloye, Henry Omoniyi (HO); Meagher, David (D);

Affiliation: Department of Adult Psychiatry, Midwestern Regional Hospital, Limerick, Ireland.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) (J Psychopharmacol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Mar; vol 21 (issue 2) : pp 161-4

Dates: Created 2007/03/01; Completed 2007/05/15; Revised 2008/09/25;

PMID: 17329295, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

ErratumIn: J Psychopharmacol. 2008 Aug;22(6):698.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Adult Aged Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - administration & dosage; adverse effects; therapeutic use Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic - administration & dosage; adverse effects; therapeutic use Cyclohexanols - administration & dosage; adverse effects; therapeutic use Depressive Disorder - drug therapy Drug Therapy, Combination Female

Female Humans Male Medical Audit Mianserin - administration & dosage; adverse effects; analogs & derivatives; therapeutic use Middle Aged Retrospective Studies Weight Gain

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation (0) ; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic (0) ; Cyclohexanols (0) ; Mianserin (24219-97-4) ; mirtazapine (61337-67-5) ; venlafaxine (93413-69-5)

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