Antidepressant

People who suffer depression that does not respond to medication could be treated successfully if a simple genetic blood test was made more widely available in the UK. Four out of 10 people with depression have a genetic abnormality that prevents them responding to anti-depressant medication, according to research presented at the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Annual Meeting in London this week

If you're on an antidepressant and it's not working, don't give up on it: You may need a higher dose, a longer duration of therapy, a different antidepressant altogether, or a combination of medications. That's the important lesson to learn from a large, six-year, four-step government study called the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression trial, or STAR*D. In fact, the researchers

Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Jun;doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.05.005 Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Depression, and Antidepressant Medications: Meta-Analyses and Implications Sen S, Duman R, Sanacora G. Departments of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, Connecticut; Pharmacology , Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Hea

Older people are at high risk for falls and subsequent injuries. Those who have depression have an increased risk of falls and the medications they take for depression increase their risk even more, New Zealand and Australian researchers reported in the open-access journal PLoS ONE. "People with depression and those taking antidepressants, especially SSRIs, are 50% more likely to fall than other o

New research at UT Southwestern Medical Center may explain why some people who are stressed or depressed overeat. While levels of the so-called "hunger hormone" ghrelin are known to increase when a person doesn't eat, findings by UT Southwestern scientists suggest that the hormone might also help defend against symptoms of stress-induced depression and anxiety. "Our findings in mice suggest that c

BMC Pharmacology 2008;8:6doi:10.1186/1471-2210-8-6Antidepressant drugs modulate growth factors in cultured cells. Henkel AW, Sperling W, Rotter A, Reulbach U, Reichardt C, Bönsch D, Maler JM, Kornhuber J, Wiltfang J. Background: Different classes of antidepressant drugs are used as a treatment for depression by activating the catecholinergic system. In addition, depression has been associat

Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Jun 15;63(12):1171-7. Electroencephalographic Alpha Measures Predict Therapeutic Response to a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Antidepressant: Pre- and Post-Treatment Findings Bruder GE, Sedoruk JP, Stewart JW, McGrath PJ, Quitkin FM, Tenke CE. Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York; Division of Cognitive

Image: Berkeley LabMajor depressive disorder is a common and complex condition that impacts about 15 percent of the population, yet very little is known about the mechanisms behind the psychiatric disorder. What is known is that there are clinical parallels between depressive symptoms and the symptoms of certain inflammatory disorders. In findings published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, res

What the GOP doesn’t seem to realize, because they are idiots, is that “the change you deserve” is the registered advertising slogan of Effexor XR. … also known as Venlafaxine, is approved for the treatment “of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder in adults.”read more | digg story

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Treatment with the antidepressant amitriptyline can reduce symptoms and improve quality of life in adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome (known as IBS), the results of a small study suggest. Tech Tags: children's newswatch children's news kids news children kids youth

Wouldnt it be nice if our doctors could predict accurately whether we would respond to a particular medication? This question is important because research studies provide information about how groups of patients tend to respond to treatments, but inevitably, differences among groups of patients with the same diagnosis mean that findings about groups of patients may not apply to individuals from those groups. Personalized medicine is the effort to match particular treatments to particular patients on the basis of genetic information or other biological markers. In a new article published in Biological Psychiatry, researchers report their findings on the potential use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to match treatments for patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Wh

Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. presented study results from the BRITE (Biomarkers for Rapid Identification of Treatment Effectiveness) trial in major depression at the Society of Biological Psychiatry and American Psychiatric Association Annual Meetings in Washington D.C. this week. BRITE trial results demonstrate that the EEG-based Antidepressant Treatment Response (ATR) indicator is a significant predictor of patient response and remission when used after one week of treatment with the antidepressant escitalopram. "We are pleased that the results of the BRITE trial indicate that early changes in frontal EEG signals carry important information about future clinical response, as this reinforces our confidence that an EEG-based biomarker has the potential to help clinicians improve the care

Researchers at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA have found that low-dose antidepressant therapy can significantly improve the overall quality of life for adolescents suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. The syndrome affects 6 percent of middle school students and 14 percent of high school kids in the United States. The study is the first of its kind to look at the effects of amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, in the pediatric IBS population, researchers said. The research was conducted between 2002 and 2005 and involved 33 newly diagnosed IBS patients, including 24 girls, between the ages of 12 and 18. Irritable bowel syndrome causes discomfort in the abdomen, along with diarrhea, constipation or both. Currently, there is no cure, and treatments only lessen the symptoms.

Br J Psychiatry. 2008 May 1;192:344-350Duration of antidepressant use during pregnancy and risk of major congenital malformations Ramos E, St-André M, Rey É, Oraichi D, Bérard A. University of Montreal, and Research Center, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine, Montreal; Background: Antidepressant use during the gestational period is a controversial topic. Aims: To determine whether duration of antidepressant use during the first trimester increases the risk of major congenital malformations in offspring of women diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. Method: A case-control study was performed among women who had been pregnant between January 1998 and December 2002. Data were obtained from a Medication and Pregnancy registry, built by linking three d

Biovail Corporation has received Approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its New Drug Application for Aplenzin™ (formerly known as BVF-033), a once-daily formulation of bupropion hydrobromide developed by the company for the treatment of depression in adults. Aplenzin™ is an alcohol-resistant formulation of a new bupropion salt and has been approved in 174mg, 348mg, and 522mg extended-release tablets. The 522mg dosage strength provides patients requiring the maximum allowable dose of bupropion the only single tablet, once-daily option. Aplenzin™ is chemically related to bupropion hydrochloride (Wellbutrin®, Zyban®). The company claims one of the main advantages of the hydrobromide formulation is that drug release is not affected by a

Psychiatric Times. 2008 Apr 15;25(5) Holly A. Garriock, PhD and Steven P. Hamilton, MD, PhD This article discusses the role of µ-opioid receptors (MORs) in antidepressant treatment and major depressive disorder (MDD). Specifically, it focuses on how the endogenous opioid system affects response to pharmaceuticals. In this article, we discuss how phenotypic variation in antidepressant response is linked to interindividual differences in the µ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1). The differences in OPRM1 also contribute to variable thresholds of tolerance to antidepressants, as well as a patient's ability to achieve remission from MDD. In addition, we review the current understanding of the OPRM1 system and its implications in antidepressant and placebo response. This will be followed

TORONTO - A Health Canada warning that linked newer generation antidepressant drugs with suicidal thoughts in children and teens may have had an unintended and negative consequence, a new study suggests. Suicides in children and teens in Manitoba rose by 25 per cent in the two years after Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that children and adolescents who took selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, might be at increased risk of experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Br J Psychiatry. 2008 Apr;192:285-289.Major depression, 5HTTLPR genotype, suicide and antidepressant influences on thalamic volume Young KA, Bonkale WL, Holcomb LA, Hicks PB, German DC. Neuropsychiatry Research Program, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System and Texas A&M Health Science Center Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Temple, Texas; Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA Background: The 5HTTLPR genetic variant of the serotonin transporter gene (SERT or 5-HTT), which is comprised of a short (SERT-s) and a long (SERT-l) allele, is associated with major depressive disorder and post-traumatic brain disorder. Aims: The present study sought to determine whether the total thalamus and major subregions are alter

When your antidepressant medication does not work, should you switch to a different medication from the same class or should you try an antidepressant medication that has a different mechanism of action? This is the question asked by researchers in a new report. Papakostas and colleagues compared two strategies for treating symptoms of major depressive disorder that do not respond to treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant: either switching to a second SSRI or to a non-SSRI antidepressant. Some common SSRI antidepressants are fluoxetine (Prozac®), citalopram (Celexa®) and sertraline (Zoloft®), while common non-SSRI antidepressants include imipramine (Tofranil®), venlafaxine (Effexor®) and buproprion (Wellbutrin®). The authors co

After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a "black box" warning on antidepressant medications, Nebraskan doctors began prescribing fewer antidepressant medications to children and teens and referring more patients to specialists, according to a state survey. The FDA announced the black box warning, which is the most serious type of warning a medication can carry, in October 2004. The warning alerted users of an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and actions among children, adolescents and more recently adults through age 24, who take the medications. Supriya Bhatia and Christopher Kratochvil, M.D., of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and colleagues developed and administered a survey to Nebraskan clinicians in summer 2005 to gauge the warning's impact on prescribi

Biol Psychiatry 2008 Apr 1;63(7):642-649Selective Loss of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Dentate Gyrus Attenuates Antidepressant Efficacy Adachi M, Barrot M, Autry AE, Theobald D, Monteggia LM. Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in neural plasticity in the adult nervous system and has been suggested as a target gene for antidepressant treatment. The neurotrophic hypothesis of depression suggests that loss of BDNF from the hippocampus contributes to an increased vulnerability for depr

Dogs suffering from depression, aggression and other mental health problems are now taking antidepressant drugs like people.  Vets believe that dogs have taken on these mental problems from trying to adapt to “a modern, often urban, lifestyle involving less exercise, less company and smaller living spaces”.  Pharmaceutical companies are keen on this, because it helps them to [...]

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has concluded a four year investigation into paroxetine (Seroxat®, Paxil®), which had focused on whether GlaxoSmithKline had failed to inform the agency in a timely manner of information it had on the safety of the drug in the under 18's. The investigation, the largest of its kind in the UK, was undertaken with a view to a potential criminal prosecution for breach of drug safety legislation, and included the scrutiny of over 1 million pages of evidence. The decision taken by Government Prosecutors, based on the investigation findings and legal advice, is that "there is no realistic prospect of a conviction in this case, and that the case should not proceed to criminal prosecution. The legislation in force at the time wa

Since JayPeeFreely left the following info as a comment on my post Bipolar Wellness Activity 5, I'm not sure how many of you read it. So I'm reposting it here. Thanks Jason! I appreciate the information. As I believe I've mentioned before, I can't get out of a severe depression without medication, but I believe it's primarily because I took medication for too many years. But who knows? Maybe my

(HealthDay News) - If you want to stop taking an antidepressant, it's important to speak with your doctor first, the American Academy of Family Physicians says. The doctor may recommend weaning your... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

A new paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that data on antidepressants was grossly manipulated. The researchers tracked all the studies, published and unpublished, on antidepressants such as prozac and paxil, to find out if outcomes affected publication..read more.....

A team of scientists has found that a drug used to treat depression can extend the lifespan of adult roundworms. Antidepressant drug mianserin can extend the lifespan of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans by about 30 %. The drug may act by mimicking the effects of caloric restriction. Studies indicate that lifespan extension by mianserin involves [...]

I think this is a really important move the FDA is proposing to make. The proposal is for all makers of antidepressants to update their existing black box warning on product labeling with information about increased risks of suicidal thinking and behavior in young adults. During initial treatment of depression, young adults aged between 18 and 24 on antidepressants face a substantial increased risk of experiencing suicidal tendencies. The proposed warning statements will emphasize that depression and certain other serious psychiatric disorders are themselves the most important causes of suicide. I believe this is such a vital change to make. I’ve seen and heard many parents who had no idea their children were at a higher risk of suicide while taking antidepressants, only to have the devastating realisation that something was terribly wrong after the fact. Many believe that if their kids are taking medication that things are better or at the very least, improving. If they are m

1.One of my life dissappointments - That i cudn't attend the party to which the lady wore this sexy dress to. 2.I feel sad and lonely but then i overcome the melancholy usually by thinking about the wise saying that follows........

Peruvian (aka Brazilian, Californian) Peppertree (schinus molle L.)Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2006 Dec 18; [Epub ahead of print] Antidepressant-like effect of the extract from leaves of Schinus molle L. in mice: Evidence for the involvement of the monoaminergic system. Machado DG, Kaster MP, Binfare RW, Dias M, Santos AR, Pizzolatti MG, Brighente IM, Rodrigues AL. Departamento de Bioquimica, Centro de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil. Schinus molle L. (Anacardiaceae), among other uses, is popularly employed for the treatment of depression. In this study, the antidepressant-like effect of the hexanic extract from leaves of S. molle was investigated in the mouse tail suspension test (TST), a predictive model of depression. The immobility time in the TST was significantly reduced by the extract (dose range 30-600 mg/kg, p.o.), without accompanying changes in ambulation when assessed in an open-field test. The efficacy of extract was fo

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) today announced its opposition to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recent recommendation to extend black box warnings on antidepressants that suggest that young adults up to the age of 25 are at an increased risk of suicide when they take the medications. DBSA and other mental health advocacy groups have expressed concern about the impact of extending the warnings to adults, which had previously been limited to use of antidepressants in children. "As an organization we have consistently called for research data on the impact of antidepressants so that patients and their doctors can make informed decisions," said Gloria Pope, DBSA's director of advocacy and public policy. "But the recent recommendation to the FDA may have a chilling effect on the legitimate use of antidepressants by young adults, ultimately increasing the risk of suicide for people under the age of 25." The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is Ame

Clin Drug Investig. 2006;26(10):607-10. Renal tubular defects from antidepressant use in an older adult: An uncommon but reversible adverse drug effect. Adiga GU, Dharmarajan TS. Halifax Regional Medical Center, Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina 27870, USA. adiga69@hotmail.com Adverse drug reactions are common and contribute to significant mortality and morbidity. We report a case study of an elderly woman who manifested with uncommon reversible renal tubular defects following the use of escitalopram [Lexapro®]. She was initially seen for worsening symptoms of depression and started on escitalopram in addition to her regular medications, which included donepezil, hydrochlorothiazide and mirtazapine. Three weeks later, she became increasingly confused and manifested recurrent falls. Laboratory evaluation showed hyponatraemia and evidence of renal tubular absorption defects. The patient's symptoms and laboratory abnormalities improved upon discontinuation of escitalopram as well as of mir

New research has shown that it might be possible to use taste as an indicator as to whether someone is depressed, and as a way of determining which is the most suitable drug to treat their anxiety or depression.

A short promotional video of a way to measure how brainwaves react to medications which may cut down how much time it takes to find the right antidepressant for an individual.(Click image to view at the HealthScout websiteRelated Ai article...

Eur J Pharmacol. 2006 Oct 17; [Epub ahead of print] Antidepressant-like effects of novel triple reuptake inhibitors, PRC025 and PRC050. Shaw AM, Boules M, Zhang Y, Williams K, Robinson J, Carlier PR, Richelson E.

Planta Med. 2006 Nov 15; [Epub ahead of print] Vitamin E Reduces Antidepressant-Related beta-Adrenoceptor Down-Regulation in Cultured Cells. Comparable Effects on St. John's Wort and Tricyclic Antidepressant Treatment. De Marchis GM, Burgi S, Kientsc

Some patients who experience recurrent depression may benefit from long-term maintenance treatment with anti-depressant medication, according to a new study led by a Virginia Commonwealth University researcher.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often described as having a delayed onset of effect in the treatment of depression. However, some trials have reported clinical improvement as early as the first week of treatment.

Treatment of depression is difficult for both patients and for psychiatrists. While there are numerous drugs available that work, finding the right one — or right combination — is, at times, a matter of trial and error.

Because individuals can react differently to antidepressant medications, regular follow-up is important during the first few weeks of treatment, according to an editorial by Group Health psychiatrist and researcher Greg Simon, MD, MPH.

PLoS Med 3(10): e389 Antidepressant Prevention of Postnatal Depression Howard LM, Boath E, Henshaw C. Postnatal depression (PND) occurs in 10 to 15 percent of mothers [1] and is therefore the commonest complication of childbearing.