A new analysis suggests that adding certain Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) to standard antidepressant treatment may help adults with depression feel better. The study, a network meta-analysis, combined results from multiple trials involving 5,975 adults with depressive disorder. It compared seven different CPMs combined with SSRIs (a common type of antidepressant) against SSRIs alone.
Overall, all CPM plus SSRI combinations significantly improved depression scores (as measured by the HAMD scale) and increased the number of people who responded to treatment, compared with SSRIs alone. The improvement in HAMD scores ranged from 2.60 to 6.20 points, and the odds of responding were 1.8 to 5.0 times higher with the combinations.
However, the study has important limitations. The rankings of specific CPMs are probabilistic, meaning they are not definitive. Also, the evidence for some CPMs is limited, and there was a potential publication bias for the response rate results. No significant differences in side effects were found between the combination and SSRI-alone groups, but safety data were incomplete.
This analysis provides early evidence that adding CPMs to SSRIs might be helpful, but it is not proof. The findings should be interpreted with caution. If you are considering adding any herbal product to your antidepressant, talk to your doctor first to ensure it is safe and appropriate for you.
