Citalopram and sertraline - their use in the GP’s surgery

Overview

Two powerfull, effectual, and safe antidepressants, citalopram and sertraline, have beenreleased for prescription also at the GP’s surgery. The paper deals with pharmacologic andtherapeutic properties of these drugs. The authors present their advantages as well as theirlimits and interactions with other drugs. Results of clinical studies bear very strong evidencethat both drugs are effective in the treatment of depression, incl. poststroke depression, anxietywith depressive features, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsivedisorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Treatment is well tolerated and patients treatedwith citalopram and sertraline experienced few adverse events.

Key words:
antidepressant - SSRI - citalopram - sertraline - depression - poststroke depression- panic disorder - OCD - posttraumatic stress disorder - treatment - interactions - side effects - GP.