International clinical psychopharmacology
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Int Clin Psychopharmacol · Jan 2013
Meta AnalysisAntidepressant efficacy of agomelatine versus SSRI/SNRI: results from a pooled analysis of head-to-head studies without a placebo control.
Pooled analysis of individual patient data was used to compare the antidepressant efficacy of agomelatine with that of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). We sought head-to-head, double-blind, randomized studies without a placebo arm using antidepressant doses in the licensed range and primary evaluation on the Hamilton scale (HAM-D(17)). Six studies were identified versus venlafaxine, sertraline, fluoxetine, paroxetine or escitalopram. ⋯ Similar results were found in patients with severe depression. Agomelatine was associated with better tolerability than SSRI/SNRI. Agomelatine has favourable efficacy and tolerability versus a range of SSRIs and SNRIs - including agents considered to have superior efficacy - and may deserve benefit-risk analysis as a first-line treatment of major depressive disorder.
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Int Clin Psychopharmacol · Jan 2013
Meta AnalysisSafety and tolerability of duloxetine in elderly patients with major depressive disorder: a pooled analysis of two placebo-controlled studies.
The objective of this study was to examine the safety and tolerability of duloxetine hydrochloride, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, in a large cohort of elderly patients with major depressive disorder. Data were pooled from 8-week and 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of duloxetine 60 mg/day (duloxetine=456; placebo=225). Discontinuation rates because of adverse events, treatment-emergent adverse events, abnormal changes in vital signs and weight, and changes in laboratory analytes were compared between treatments using a Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. ⋯ The mean changes in platelet count, alkaline phosphatase, potassium, random glucose, uric acid, and cholesterol were significantly different between duloxetine and placebo (P<0.05), but none of these differences were considered clinically relevant. The incidence of abnormal low sodium levels was not significantly different between treatments. These safety results may better inform clinicians providing individualized care to elderly patients with major depressive disorder.
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Int Clin Psychopharmacol · Jan 2013
Changes in prolactin levels and sexual function in young psychotic patients after switching from long-acting injectable risperidone to paliperidone palmitate.
Hyperprolactinaemia is a significant side effect of antipsychotic medications and may cause sexual dysfunction. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of switching from long-acting injectable (LAI) risperidone to paliperidone palmitate (PP) on sexual function and prolactin levels in patients with psychosis. We carried out a prospective observational study during a 3-month period that involved 11 patients with psychosis treated with risperidone-LAI who suffered from hyperprolactinaemia and who were then switched to PP. ⋯ Our results showed a significant decrease in serum prolactin levels (P=0.041). We observed a four-fold reduction in clinically significant sexual dysfunction that is suggestive of benefit, although the sample size is too small to be sure. Our study suggests that prolactin levels seem to decrease after switching from risperidone-LAI to PP in patients with a psychotic disorder.