New study says newer antidepressants not always better

Two new reviews comparing the benefits and side effects of antidepressants appear in the most recent issue of The Cochrane Library. The studies suggest that newer antidepressants may not be more effective than the best existing drugs. In the first review of sertraline, the researchers suggest that generic sertraline (sold as brand name Zoloft since 1991) could be the best initial choice for patients with acute major depression. The second review suggests that patients also experienced good results with the the newer antidepressant Lexapro (escitalopram) but it is not yet available in generic form and needs economic analysis to determine cost effectiveness.