Remeron / mirtazapine efficient, primary insurance ...

Remeron / mirtazapine effective, safe for the elderly

Stanford, California -. Depression is a leading company in about 6 percent of Americans over 65 medical problem, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. In treating these patients, psychiatrists have to compensate for the increased susceptibility of patients with side effects associated with drugs and possible interactions with the need to quickly and effectively to struggle with depression. The stakes are high: The elderly are more likely than younger people to commit suicide, and older patients with depression are more likely than their non-depressed counterparts other serious diseases.

Now, a multicenter clinical trial phase IV of Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, Alan Schatzberg, MD, has shown that called antidepressants mirtazapine works much faster, more effective and has fewer side effects in patients older than before paroxetine Another commonly antidepressants . The research is the first direct comparison of the two drugs in the treatment of elderly patients with major depression.

"It is very rare, a lot better than other drugs, to see," Schatzberg, chairman of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, said. "But what we have found that mirtazapine traded faster and produces better overall results in the first six weeks of treatment with paroxetine." He is the research on May 6 at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in New Orleans present, Louisiana.

With quick work of drugs for people suffering from depression, especially older patients. However, most types of antidepressants in the body for several weeks should collect before the relief of symptoms of depression.

"A major problem in the treatment of depression problem is that patients give up because they experience side effects, or they do not feel better - there is a perceived lack of efficiency," Schatzberg said. "The drugs that act faster and better tolerated tend to be associated with the patient to continue treatment."

The study showed that after one week of treatment, were significantly more likely some improvement in their symptoms have experienced patients, the mirtazapine. Were also less likely than patients taking paroxetine premature termination of treatment.

In addition, mirtazapine was more effective than paroxetine, particularly in combating anxiety and increased sleep, which are often observed in elderly patients with depression. Mirtazapine patients were also less likely, with the treatment not due to adverse side effects such as drowsiness, nausea, dry mouth and fatigue.

Schatzberg, who noted that mirtazapine was tolerated by the patients in the study "After an antidepressant that works for this patient population - - and act quickly would be a great asset to the region, be", "Low said the risk of drug interactions . mirtazapine and cardiovascular complications may be the optimal treatment of depression in older people. "

Mirtazapine acts by increasing the release of norepinephrine, which increase directly and indirectly the release of serotonin in the brain. Norepinephrine and serotonin are important neurotransmitters - chemicals to transmit signals from one neuron to another. However Paroxetine belongs to a class of drugs called serotonin reuptake or SSRIs. These drugs enhance the effects of serotonin, thereby increasing the amount of time remaining in neuronal synapses. Paroxetine may also be able to easily enhance the release of norepinephrine.

Schatzberg and other researchers from 17 centers across the country have the effect of the two drugs in 255 patients who were at least 65 of the randomized study had studied double-blind and each patient was treated for eight weeks. Mirtazapine was from Organon Inc. was marketed under the trade name REMERON SolTab. Paroxetine is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline under the trade name Paxil. The study was supported financially by Organon, Inc.

--- Stanford University

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