Readers rate antidepressants
A survey of Consumer Reports readers who take antidepressants tells you which drugs helped and what side effects they experienced.
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The 1,664 survey respondents who took the antidepressants listed below told us whether the most recent one they took helped them “a lot” and whether they experienced common side effects. When the results were added up, some medications scored higher than others in the percentage of time they helped a lot and in the rate of side effects experienced.
Differences in methodology may account for the fact that our study found more differences among the drugs than clinical studies have. A key difference is that in the “real world” of our survey respondents, doctors match drugs to patients based on their symptoms and their likely response to side effects--and don't hesitate to switch if the first drug doesn't work. By contrast, clinical studies assign drugs randomly and usually don't allow switching. In the real world, unacceptable side effects often lead to a change in medication.
| Generic (brand)  |
% helped a lot | % side effects | Approved for: | Cost per month  |
||
| Drowsiness or disorientation | Decreased sexual interest or performance | Weight gain | ||||
| venlafaxine (Effexor) | 76% | 18% | 51% | 21% | Depression | $117 (brand) |
| fluoxetine (Prozac) | 69 | 15 | 41 | 19 | Depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia, panic disorder | 73 (generic) 113 (brand) |
| citalopram (Celexa) | 68 | 17 | 45 | 18 | Depression | 80 (brand) |
| sertraline (Zoloft) | 67 | 18 | 46 | 17 | Depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, social anxiety disorder | 82 (brand) |
| paroxetine (Paxil) | 59 | 21 | 53 | 22 | Depression, general anxiety, social anxiety disorder, obsessive- compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder | 72 (generic) 85 (brand) |
| bupropion (Wellbutrin) | 57 | 10 | 21 | 12 | Depression | 68 (generic) 140 (brand) |
Some of these drugs are also available in extended-release versions, which may have approval for additional indications, including anxiety. Cost for a a typical adult dose for one month of treatment, calculated from retail prescription price information provided by NDCHealth, a health-care information services company, July 2004.Guide to the Ratings
Based on responses to our 2003 Annual Questionnaire; 1,664 readers reported on their most recent experience taking an antidepressant between January 2000 and April 2003. Drugs are listed in order of reader-reported effectiveness. Ratings results were similar when we controlled for severity and types of symptoms reported. Ratings for previously tried medications were typically lower. Since this type of study has no control group, it is not possible to calculate placebo effects or what the rates of recovery would be with no treatment. The results reflect the experiences of Consumer Reports subscribers and might not be representative of the U.S. population.
If you suspect you are suffering from depression, make an appointment with your doctor soon. Prompt, proper treatment of depression can control symptoms and restore your quality of life. With many drug and nondrug options available, having up-to-date, unbiased information is very important.
This article originally appeared in Consumer Reports in October 2004.
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