Vortioxetine safe but confers no benefit for GAD symptoms

In the management of patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), vortioxetine proves to be safe and well tolerated but exerts neutral effects on GAD symptoms, quality of life (QoL) and functional status, according to the results of a meta-analysis.

Researchers searched multiple online databases for randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of vortioxetine treatment vs placebo in patients with GAD. The search yielded four studies to be included in the meta-analysis.

Pooled data showed that compared with placebo, treatment with vortioxetine at multiple doses did not significantly improve the response rates (2.5 mg/day: odds ratio [OR], 1.16, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.84–1.60; p=0.38; 5 mg/day: OR, 1.41, 95 percent CI, 0.82–2.41; p=0.21; 10 mg/day: OR, 1.05, 95 percent CI, 0.76–1.46; p=0.75).

Moreover, outcomes such as remission, discontinuation for any reason, withdrawal due to adverse events rates, Short-Form 36 Health Survey scores and Sheehan Disability Scale scores were similar between the active drug (at any dose) and placebo.

The researchers advised cautious interpretation and translation of the present data, given that the meta-analysis was based on a limited number of trials. Furthermore, the trials had a relatively short treatment duration (8 weeks), which “is an important issue because patients with GAD typically require long-term pharmacological treatment.”