Posted by jrbecker on July 18, 2003, at 10:41:55
In reply to Re: Anybody try SIBUTRAMINE (Meridia) for depressi, posted by Jack Smith on July 17, 2003, at 15:28:35
> Although it cannot be doubted that some drugs are really harmful, I feel that media hype and litigation hounding have become more harmful for those of us seeking effective treatments. Check this link out:
>
> http://www.injuryboard.com/view.cfm/ID=752unbelievable
> Pregabalin is not even approved yet and there is already a site just waiting for people to sue. Crazy.
>
> On another note, is NK-1 the same thing as substance P? Pardon my ignorance. And is Pagaclone the anxiolytic people were talking about that was not going to have drowsiness as a side effect?Yes, NK-1 antagonists work on substance P - and are considered the same thing. There are also NK-2 and NK-3 antagonists in the works for other conditions beside affective disorders. And yes, Pagoclone [by Indevus] is considered to be a newer anxiolytic since it acts as an agonist at certain subtypes of the GABA-A receptor, so it causes less sedation/memory probs. The efficacy of the clincal studies were mixed though, and many major pharm. companies have passed on helping Indevus make it to market. Right now, there has been no movement on it. Ocinaplon [by DOV] is like pagoclone, but has done a lot better in testing thus far. It is entering Phase III trials next month, but will not be on the market for at least two whole years.
The main reasons why these newer, better side-effect profile anxiolytics haven't come to the market earlier are: 1) SSRIs and other newer AD classes have done a fair job of treating anxiety in most cases, and 2) these newer anxioytics are for very specific anxiety (e.g., GAD, panic disorder). Despite benzos being one of the best selling drug classes, they have been edged out by other categories like ADs and sleep aids. Xanax and Klonopin used to be prescribed a lot more liberally for not just anxiety but also sleep. Now that is not the case. In the end, big pharm companies are looking for drugs that can treat more than just one condition. Take pregabalin for instance. Not a particularly great anxiety drug on its own (cumbersome side effects at higer doses, questionable efficacy when stacked up against other anx drug profiles) but it's going to treat a number of conditions: epilepsy, panic disorder, GAD, bipolar?, etc. This is why a drug like this makes it to market faster than pagoclone does. Just like so many other things in life, it's sometimes just good business.
by the way, how's that xanax xr working? It's been years since I tried regular xanax, I always found it too numbing -- mostly just used it for sleep. preferred klonopin or ativan, personally. My doc called in a xanax xr script, but I haven't bothered picking it up at the pharmacy since I thought it won't be to my liking (I stay away from most benzo's anyway since they just make me tired). what's your input? is xanax xr a much better drug or is it just a slight tweak on the orginal form?
JB
poster:jrbecker
thread:242854
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030718/msgs/243154.html