A number of well designed trials have demonstrated the efficacy of mirtazapine in
the treatment of patients with moderate to severe major depression. Mirtazapine
was more effective than placebo at relieving the symptoms of depression in shortterm
studies and effectively prevented relapse for up to 1 year. In short-term comparisons
with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and related drugs, mirtazapine
showed antidepressant efficacy similar to that of comparator agents such as amitriptyline
and trazodone. The proportion of patients classified as Hamilton Depression
Rating Scale (HAM-D) responders in comparisons with amitriptyline
ranged from53%to 72%withmirtazapine and from48%to 72%with amitriptyline.