Posted by fachad on May 1, 2002, at 10:55:22
Well, the new issue of Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (Volume 63 May 2002 Number 5) has introduced a new disorder that we have know about here for a long time: Antidepressant Apathy Syndrome (AAD).
This particular issue of JCP looks like it was brought to us by the folks at Eli Lilly, judging from the number of articles that were funded by Lilly and (surprise!) found Olanzapine (Zyprexa) to be effective for many different problems, including AAD.
The title of the article in question is:
"Olanzapine in the Treatment of Apathy in Previously Depressed Participants Maintained With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: An Open-Label, Flexible-Dose Study"
They admitted that SSRIs can cause a severe apathy syndrome, sometimes called by patients "poop-out".
They went on to score the apathy, and then give the folks Zyprexa. They found that it improved symptoms in a statistically significant number of patients.
It just seems ironic to me that the company that launched this AAD problem on us (through the introduction of Prozac) is now selling their hot new patented (read expensive for us and profitable for them) drug as the cure for the problem.
Well, ironic or not, I am just happy the AAD problem is being taken seriously. Too bad there won't be any studies that compare the efficacy of Dex vs. Zyprexa or Adderall vs. Zyprexa for AAD. I still maintain that stimulants like Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Adderall are the most safe and effective treatments for AAD in most cases.
poster:fachad
thread:104624
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020425/msgs/104624.html