Source: DGNews  |  Posted 8 years ago

By Paula Moyer

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC -- October 6, 2003 -- Mirtazapine (Remeron) and venlafaxine (Effexor) are both effective at alleviating the anxiety and depression often present in alcoholics prior to undergoing detoxification. Mirtazapine, however, may reduce such symptoms more markedly, according to findings presented here September 22nd at the 16th Annual Meeting of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

"Although both were effective, mirtazapine had a faster onset of action," said Konstantinos Kontoangelos, MD, psychiatry resident, Athens University Medical School, Greece.

Because alcohol abuse is associated with anxiety and depression, Dr. Kontoangelos and his colleagues wanted to determine whether the antidepressants mirtazapine and venlafaxine were effective in ameliorating such symptoms in individuals undergoing detoxification. The study base consisted of 30 patients who were diagnosed as alcoholic according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (DSM-IV).

The 8 men and 7 women in the venlafaxine group were an average of 46.7