![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
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.
Posted by Ritch on May 1, 2002, at 13:53:04
In reply to New in JCP: Antidepressant Apathy Syndrome (AAD), 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.
Fachad,Of course, a year or so before the patent runs out on Zyprexa, they will come out with a miracle cure for Tardive Dyskinesia/Dystonia for $3 a pill.
Mitch
Posted by Phil on May 1, 2002, at 15:29:34
In reply to Re: New in JCP: Antidepressant Apathy Syndrome (AAD) » fachad, posted by Ritch on May 1, 2002, at 13:53:04
Didn't they invent PMDD so they could market Sarafem? The Prozac in the pretty capsule. Right before they lost their patent on Prozac.
Way worse than new and improved Tide coming out every year for 40 years. Stuff must have been crap when they introduced it.
Posted by Ritch on May 1, 2002, at 23:13:35
In reply to Re: New in JCP: Antidepressant Apathy Syndrome (AAD), posted by Phil on May 1, 2002, at 15:29:34
> Didn't they invent PMDD so they could market Sarafem? The Prozac in the pretty capsule. Right before they lost their patent on Prozac.
> Way worse than new and improved Tide coming out every year for 40 years. Stuff must have been crap when they introduced it.
Phil,It *is* tough to keep up with the PR/marketing sh*tstorms and to sort it all out. Hey, even pdocs can be bamboozeled. There *is* a LOT of cash riding on all of this. I heard that there was a tremendous layoff at the Lilly facility that made patent Prozac (I think in Indiana) when generic fluoxetine was made available. They are probably "retooling" for Zyprexa now.
Mitch
Posted by tex1 on May 2, 2002, at 4:56:03
In reply to New in JCP: Antidepressant Apathy Syndrome (AAD), 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.
All you have said doesn't surprise me. Folks at lilly are very well instructed on how to get money from inventing new syndromes. They already new about prozac-induced apathy from the beginning, but did't say that at all. Can you imagine inventing right away a drug that cure depression or cancer ? Much more money can be done by marketing one drug at a time....reaching the right one with time.
Anyway, I believe that apathy syndrome has nothing to do with apathy at all, but with anxiety most. I wouldn't treat it by using stimulant, but better with benzos or buspirone. Apathy infact is a sort of hyperstimulation of certain receptors (even if it's hard to believe it). Say to your pdoc to have a try with a benzo. You'll see results.Best luck
Tex
Posted by Ron Hill on May 2, 2002, at 15:40:05
In reply to New in JCP: Antidepressant Apathy Syndrome (AAD), posted by fachad on May 1, 2002, at 10:55:22
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.