Publication:

Comparative study of efficacy and safety of escitalopram versus opipramol in the treatment of major depressive disorder: one-year, prospective, open label, randomized and add on therapy in a tertiary care hospital

Background A randomized, prospective, open label, comparative study was conducted to evaluate and compare the Efficacy and safety of escitalopram versus opipramol in patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods A total of 100 patients from psychiatry OPD diagnosed with major depression were included in the study after fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The eligible participants were randomly allocated into one of the following two treatment groups after randomization block permeation method i. e., pharmacologically equivalent dose range of the two drugs as follows: group 1: Tab. escitalopram 10-20 mg OD for 6 weeks. Group 2: Tab. opipramol 50 mg-100 mg BD for 6 weeks. All patients were given the respective tablets for 2 week and were asked to come for follow up after 2nd, 4th and 6th week of treatment. At first visit baseline parameters like weight, BMI, CBC, LFTs, RFTs, lipid profile, blood glucose, ECG and use of concomitant medicines were recorded and subsequently measured again at the end of 4th and 6th week. Evaluation parameters were assessed by using HAM (D and A) scale and Naranjo causality assessment scale.

Results Escitalopram group exhibited a better improvement in HAM-D score in comparison to Opipramol group. Escitalopram group exhibited a better improvement in CGI-SOI, CGI-GI, CGI-EI score in comparison to Opipramol group.  On intergroup comparison, no statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was seen between the groups at 6 weeks of treatment. It was observed that 32 patients in Escitalopram arm and 35 patients in opipramol group required the rescue treatment (tab. Clonazepam).

Conclusions we conclude from our study that escitalopram group showed better improvement in management of symptoms of depression than opipramol.