Study Finds No ‘Best’ Depression Drug

Newer drugs used to treat depression work about equally well, says a study that analyzed previous research. But side effects can differ, the study noted. Researchers looked at 234 studies. Each included more than 1,000 people. They focused on “second-generation” drugs for depression. They include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft) and several others. No drug worked better than any other. But some, such as Remeron (mirtazapine), started working faster. Bupropion (Wellbutrin and other brands) was less likely to cause sexual side effects. Some were more likely to cause insomnia, and others weight gain. Some had lower costs or needed to be taken less often. These factors can help doctors decide which drug to try first for each patient. The journal Annals of Internal Medicine published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it December 5.