We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Antidepressant Dosing for the Acute Treatment of Unipolar Depression.
- Authors
Solvason, Hugh Brent; DeBattista, Charles
- Abstract
Antidepressants are among the most commonly prescribed medications: The treatment of major depressive disorder can be challenging even in those without comorbid medical or psychiatric illness. The majority of people treated for a major depressive episode do not achieve complete remission after treatment with a single antidepressant. Achieving an adequate dose and duration of treatment is important to achieve maximal response and remission rates. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), bupropion, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are separate classes of antidepressants with unique characteristics reflected in the differing dosing strategies used, the need for blood monitoring, and dose-drug tolerability relationships. SSRIs have a relatively flat dose-response curve. Among the SNRIs, venlafaxine has a marked dose-response relationship, whereas duloxetine and milnacipran do not. Blood monitoring with bupropion and several TCAs can be important in achieving the best clinical response. MAOIs are often used for treatment-resistant depression and doses for these medications may exceed the Food and Drug Administration-approved dose. These concerns are addressed as well as clinical concerns in the initiation and dosing of these medications.
- Publication
Primary Psychiatry, 2009, Vol 16, Issue 10, p30
- ISSN
1082-6319
- Publication type
Academic Journal