J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2001 Mar;40(2):324-333.

Comparison of Efficacy and Safety between Tianeptine and Sertraline in the Treatment of Patients with Depression

• Lee MS
• Kang SM
• Kee BS
• Yeon BK
• Oh BH
• Lee C
• Chae JM
• Paik IH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tianeptine and sertraline in the treatment of patients with depression. METHOD: The study was done on the patients with major depression diagnosed by DSM-IV, who had a Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(HAM-D) score > OR =14 on the first 17 items of the HAM-D. A total of 40 patients were randomly assigned to tianeptine group and sertraline group. Tianeptine and sertraline were prescribed to each group. 6 weeks of each medication was carried out after 7 days of drug excretion period. Evaluation using 17 item HAM-D, Montgomery and {0c5}sberg Depression Rating Scale(MADRS), Clinical Global Impression Scale(CGI), and Covi Scale was done on the baseline and after 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks. Regarding all side effects that had occurred during the period of our study such as their developed/disappeared time, severities, incidences, managements and results have been recorded.
RESULTS
A total of 30 patients(tianeptine group 15;sertraline group 15) finished the 6 weeks of research. 37.5mg of the daily dose was regularly prescribed to the tianeptine group, the average amount of 64.0+/-22.5mg of the final daily dose was prescribed to the sertraline group. Total 17 item HAM-D scores, total points of MADRS and CGI showed significant decrease after 1 week in each treatment group and continous decrease after 2, 4 and 6 weeks;and no difference was found between tianeptine group and sertraline group in the antidepressant efficacy. Also there were no significant changes in vital sign, CBC, chemistry, and EKG in each treatment group. The common reported side effects of tianeptine were nausea(33.3%), epigastic distress(26.7%), dry mouth(20.0%), headache(13.3%) and those of sertraline were dry mouth(53.3%), headache(46.7%), nausea(33.3%), anorexia(33.3%). CONCLULSION: According to the results, tianeptine was effective in improvement of depressive symptoms and was well tolerated and safe in patients with depression.

Keyword

Tianeptine; Sertraline; Efficacy; Safety

MeSH Terms

Chemistry
Depression*
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Electrocardiography
Humans
Incidence
Sertraline*
Vital Signs
Sertraline