Gender differences in the clinical effects of fluvoxamine and milnacipran in Japanese major depressive patients

Gender differences in the treatment response to fluvoxamine (selective serotonin re‐uptake inhibitor) and milnacipran (serotonin/norepinephrine re‐uptake inhibitor) were investigated in Japanese major depressive patients. A total of 125 Japanese patients was included in the present study. Sixty‐six patients received fluvoxamine treatment. The daily dose was 50 mg/day for the first week and increased to 100 mg after 1 week, up to 200 mg after another week. Fifty‐nine patients were given milnacipran. The daily dose was 50 mg/day for the first week, and up to 100 mg/day thereafter. Patients were divided into three groups: younger women (