Posted by SLS on March 1, 2002, at 9:48:21
Hi.
Here's something I thought I'd pass along from Medscape...
1. Duloxetine Significantly Reduces Symptoms of Depression
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/411151
From the verbiage used, it appears that duloxetine is similar to venlafaxine, not only with respect to the combined actions of the reuptake inhibition of both NE and 5-HT, but also with respect to efficacy in treating depression. Venlafaxine gets more people well and produces a greater degree of improvement than any of the SSRIs. These conclusions regarding venlafaxine are derived from a study involving over 2000 patients. That duloxetine showed itself to be superior to paroxetine in the studies referred to here indicates that both of these NE/5-HT reuptake inhibitors are superior to the SSRIs. I remember Andrew Nierenberg telling me in 1992 that venlafaxine was sort of a non-MAOI MAOI. Perhaps duloxetine will be as well. I might put off switching to Nardil from Effexor if approval of duloxetine is imminent.Does anyone know how close duloxetine is to reaching market?
- Scott
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<excerpts>
"NEW YORK (MedscapeWire) Nov 26 — Data on duloxetine, an
investigational balanced serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake
inhibitor, suggest it is more effective than placebo and paroxetine
in reducing depressive symptoms. In addition, duloxetine was found
to be more effective than placebo in reducing the physical symptoms
associated with depression. The data were presented at the 14th
Annual US Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress in Boston,
Massachusetts.""The studies also suggest that duloxetine provides balanced, potent,
and tolerable effect at all doses, though the therapeutic evidence
of duloxetine 60 mg/once daily dose was similar in magnitude to
duloxetine 40 mg/taken twice a day (80 mg), indicating that a 60
mg/once daily dosing regimen can be used. The data were measured by
mean change on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
(HAMD17).""Duloxetine's dual mechanism of action offers the possibility for
rapid onset of antidepressant effect, better response with pain
symptoms, and higher remission rates than available with SSRIs that
are most commonly prescribed today," said John H. Greist, MD,
clinical professor of psychiatry, University of Wisconsin Medical
School, who presented data on duloxetine at the Congress. "Because
we recognize that serotonin blockade alone is not sufficient for
everyone, and that physical symptoms of depression often go
unresolved, duloxetine may become a potent first-line
antidepressant therapy."
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poster:SLS
thread:95939
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020301/msgs/95939.html