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The debate continues: Is the dual-neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine more effective than SSRIs? These investigators, three of whom work for the manufacturer of venlafaxine, performed a meta-analysis involving all 34 published and unpublished, double-blind, randomized, venlafaxine–SSRI comparison studies that were sponsored by the venlafaxine manufacturer and had patient-level data (8877 patients; mean baseline score on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, 24). SSRIs included fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, and citalopram. A second meta-analysis of these data also incorporated data from three open-label studies and 11 randomized, controlled trials with other sponsors.
In the first meta-analysis, 5.9% more pa…