Dual-dual action? Combining venlafaxine and mirtazapine in the treatment of depression

Abstract

Objective: Venlafaxine and mirtazapine in combination are increasingly used in clinical practice to treat treatment-refractory depression. Putative efficacy for this combination of antidepressants, beyond that of monotherapy, stems from their synergistic actions. This paper describes a prospective case series that examined the efficacy of the venlafaxine-mirtazapine combination in the treatment of depressed patients who had failed at least one antidepressant trial. Method: Twenty-two depressed patients with major depression were treated with venlafaxine and mirtazapine in combination for an average of just under 8weeks. Baseline ratings on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D1..