Health · Medical Research · 49 mins ago
Meta-analysis compares long-term relief from 21 antidepressants
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis comparing 21 antidepressants.
A meta-analysis combines results from multiple studies.
The research focused on how well the drugs offered relief over time.
It found that a few drugs were more effective over the long term.
The finding highlights differences in long-term effectiveness among the drugs compared.
The available information does not identify which drugs stood out or say what happens next.
A large analysis found that escitalopram performed best among the antidepressants studied at preventing depression relapse.
The analysis involved nearly 10,000 people prescribed different medications for up to a year.
Agomelatine and duloxetine ranked next, while fluoxetine, also known as Prozac, ranked just below them.
Experts said the differences were modest and treatment choices should take individual factors into account.
The analysis was published in The Lancet Psychiatry.
- Who
- Researchers compared antidepressants used by people with depression.
- What
- An analysis found escitalopram performed best at preventing relapse among the drugs studied.
- When
- Published on 11 November 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- To compare how well antidepressants help people stay free of depression symptoms over time.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Nearly 10,000 people in the studies were prescribed different antidepressants.
The New York Times published an article about the meta-analysis.
The BBC reported the findings, which were published in The Lancet Psychiatry.
- People involved
- Nearly 10,000
- Study period
- Up to a year
- Best-ranked drug
- Escitalopram
- Next-ranked drugs
- Agomelatine and duloxetine
- Publication
- The Lancet Psychiatry
2 sources
What people are saying
if you start an antidepressant, choose one that not only helps you to get well, but also keeps you well.
it cannot tell us which antidepressant will work best for an individual patient.
the differences are modest and are unlikely to outweigh individual factors such as side effects, previous response and patient preference when deciding on treatment.
It's common for people to need to try more than one medication before they find the right treatment that works for them. And what works may change over time.