Pharmacopsychiatry 2005; 38(2): 69-77
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-837806
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Side-Effect Profile of Fluoxetine in Comparison with Other SSRIs, Tricyclic and Newer Antidepressants: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trial Data

P. Brambilla1 , A. Cipriani2 , M. Hotopf3 , C. Barbui2
  • 1Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
  • 2Department of Medicine and Public Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
  • 3Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, UK
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 30.3.2004 Revised: 5.7.2004

Accepted: 27.7.2004

Publication Date:
02 March 2005 (online)

Background: In the last ten years, SSRIs have increasingly replaced TCAs as comparators of newer antidepressants (ADs), because of their better tolerability profile. In particular, fluoxetine has become a reference drug for the treatment of depression, but the occurrence of individual side effects in depressed subjects treated with fluoxetine and each comparator AD have not been systematically investigated. Methods: This meta-analysis investigated the frequency of side effects induced by fluoxetine or alternative ADs and compared the occurrence of individual side effects in depressed subjects. All randomised clinical trials (RCTs) comparing fluoxetine with any other AD drug in patients with major depression were located by searching the Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Controlled Trials Register and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. Two reviewers independently extracted information. Results: Significantly less percentage of patients treated with fluoxetine experienced any side effects in comparison with TCAs (50.9 % vs 60.3 %, 29 RCTs; RR = 0.84, p = 0.003), but not in comparison with other SSRIs (59.4 % vs 59.3 %, 15 RCTs; RR = 1.00, p = 0.902). In addition, fluoxetine was better tolerated in comparison with TCAs and related ADs (RR 0.61, 95 % CI 0.52, 0.71), but not in comparison with other SSRIs. Regard to individual side effects, activating (insomnia, agitation, tremor and anxiety) and gastrointestinal adverse events (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and anorexia) were significantly more frequent in fluoxetine-treated patients, whereas cholinergic side effects were significantly less frequent. Conclusions: Fluoxetine compared to other ADs had more activating and gastrointestinal adverse effects, which often require additional pharmacotherapy or other managements strategies, leading to discontinuation and non-compliance and increasing the costs. This information is relevant to base on evidence the prescription of ADs in everyday clinical practice.

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Dr. Paolo Brambilla

Dipartimento di Patologia e Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica

Sezione di Psichiatria

Policlinico Universitario

Università di Udine

via Colugna 50

33100 Udine

Italy

Phone: +39-049-55.9494

Fax: +39-0432-54.5526

Email: paolo.brambilla@uniud.it

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