[Fluvoxamine in the treatment of depressive disorders in alcohol dependence: results of randomized open-label...

Assess the efficacy and safety of fluvoxamine, sertraline, citalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine.

The study included 175 patients with alcohol dependence and depressive disorders. 161 had a diagnosis Alcohol Dependence Syndrome (ADS); 14 patients had a «dual diagnosis». All patients were randomized into 5 groups according to the drugs received. To assess the therapeutic efficacy of drugs, the following scales were used: visual analogue scale (VAS), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The safety of drugs was assessed by the incidence of adverse events (AEs) or serious adverse events (SAEs).

The drugs relieve depressive disorders: fluvoxamine by the 7th day of treatment, sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram by the 14th day, fluoxetine by the 30th day of therapy. A significant decrease in the level of anxiety when taking fluvoxamine and citalopram occurs by the 7th day, when taking sertraline and paroxetine - by the 14th day, and when taking fluoxetine - by the 30th day. The presence of an anticraving effect in SSRIs is confirmed by the obtained strong and average correlation coefficients between affective disorders and craving for alcohol. The correlation analysis allowed drawing the conclusions about the close connection of presenting features of the affective disorders (depression and anxiety) and craving. The anticraving effect is more expressive in fluvoxamine, sertraline, citalopram and paroxetine. The most common adverse reactions (increased insomnia and anxiety) are observed in: fluoxetine, citalopram, sertraline, paroxetine. Fluvoxamine has the most favorable safety profile.

SSRIs can be effectively used for the treatment of depressive disorders in alcohol dependence.