Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day and 100 mg/day in outpatients with major depressive disorder

Desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day resulted in a mean change of -11.5 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression compared to -9.5 for placebo.

• The study included 447 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
• Desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day showed a statistically significant improvement in depression symptoms compared to placebo.
• The 100 mg/day dose of desvenlafaxine did not achieve statistical significance for the primary efficacy measure.
• Secondary measures indicated significant improvements for the 100 mg/day group compared to placebo on specific scales.
• Both dosages of desvenlafaxine were generally well-tolerated, with common side effects including dry mouth and insomnia.
• Findings may be limited by the exclusion of patients with other health conditions and the short duration of treatment.

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