A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Comparing “Guideline Exposed” and “Guideline Naive” Physicians in Respect to Dosage Selection and Treatment Outcome with Doxepin in Depressive Disorders

INTRODUCTION

Can prescribing of insufficient dosages and outcome of treatment with antidepressants in routine care be improved by guidelines?

METHODS

161 general practitioners and 162 psychiatrists in private practice documented 1319 patients, receiving doxepin for individual clinical reasons. Physicians were randomly divided into a guideline exposed and a control group. All physicians treated their patients according to individual clinical considerations.

RESULTS

Average maximum daily dosage was 83 mg/d in the control and 95 mg/d in the intervention group (F=19.15; p<0). Only 3% of patients in both groups got the recommended dosage of 150 mg/d. Guideline exposure resulted in increased dosages preferably for milder forms of depression and in comparatively lower rates of improvement.

CONCLUSION

Guideline exposure did not reach its goal in respect to the recommended dosage. It missed its goal in respect to improvement of outcome and even showed negative effects. Guidelines should be evidence-based not only by referring to literature reviews but by testing their clinical effects in controlled clinical trials.

Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome: cross-reactivity with tricyclic antidepressant agents

BACKGROUND

Aromatic anticonvulsant agents such as carbamazepine and phenytoin can induce anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome (AHS) at a frequency of 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 1,000 treated patients. The hypersensitivity syndrome is a potentially life-threatening adverse drug reaction with multiorgan involvement, and incidental reexposure must be strictly avoided. Patients and treating physicians must be informed and educated about the causal drug and its potential immunologic or toxicologic cross-reactivity with other compounds. It has been well established that for future antiepileptic drug therapy, carboxamides (carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine), phenytoin, and barbiturates (phenobarbital and primidone) have to be avoided owing to their high degree of cross-reactivity. Other anticonvulsant agents, such as valproic acid, benzodiazepines, and gabapentin, may be prescribed.

OBJECTIVES

To present the clinical data for and to describe the potential cross-reactivity between aromatic anticonvulsant and tricyclic antidepressant agents in patients with carbamazepine- and phenytoin-induced AHS.

METHODS

The knowledge of cross-reactivity among aromatic anticonvulsant agents mainly emerged from clinical experience and observations because diagnostic challenge tests are not advisable. Thirty-six patients with the diagnosis of AHS were instructed to contact our unit if the symptoms relapsed.

RESULTS

Despite better knowledge of AHS, one third of the patients had avoidable recurrences after exposure to cross-reactive drugs. Besides the known cross-reactivity among aromatic anticonvulsant agents, we observed a recurrence of the hypersensitivity syndrome in 5 patients after the administration of tricyclic antidepressant agents.

CONCLUSION

The important potential cross-reactivity between aromatic anticonvulsant and tricyclic antidepressant drugs should be brought to the attention of treating physicians.

Delusional denial of pregnancy as a special form of Cotard's syndrome: case report and review of the literature

The following case report describes a pregnant woman who was convinced that her pregnancy was non-existent despite being in an advanced stage of clinically obvious pregnancy. The nosologically unspecific syndrome of denial of pregnancy is discussed by reviewing the literature. Based on the existing literature it will be explained why this specific syndrome is considered to indicate a special form of Cotard's syndrome.

Parkinsonism–hyperpyrexia syndrome: The role of electroconvulsive therapy

Herein, we present a case of a parkinsonism-hyperpyrexia syndrome (PHS) in a 58-year-old man with a 10-year history of Parkinson's disease. The patient presented with a 2-week history of fever and increasing confusion, in the context of a number of changes to his medication regimen. On presentation, he was noted to be febrile with autonomic instability, diaphoresis and marked rigidity. He was disoriented and responding to visual hallucinations. Investigations revealed an elevated creatine kinase and a provisional diagnosis of PHS was made. After the patient failed to respond during a 2-week period to supportive measures, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatment was commenced. A good response to eight bilateral ECT treatments was achieved, with resolution of his confusional state and associated psychotic phenomena. We discuss the nosological and management issues associated with this case and discuss the role of ECT as a treatment modality in this condition.

Management of sleep disturbance associated with atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common childhood skin disease that also affects adults. Sleep problems are frequently associated with AD and negatively affect both patients and their families. Although this problem is well recognized, there are currently limited studies of patients with AD to guide clinical management of sleep disturbances. This targeted review will inform clinicians of the potential therapeutic agents available to manage sleep disturbances and will review literature relevant to improving the sleep of children and adults with AD. On the basis of our clinical experience and the limited data available, we provide a suggested algorithm for clinicians treating sleep problems associated with AD, but clearly more studies are needed to both further characterize the sleep of patients with AD and to test the efficacy and effectiveness of candidate agents in clinical trials.

Nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy in a patient with acute renal failure never requiring dialysis

Nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD) is a newly recognized cutaneous fibrosing disorder. To date the etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical course remains unknown. The majority of cases have been in renal dialysis or renal transplant patients. Only four cases have been reported in which patients had acute renal failure and never required dialysis. Currently, there is no effective treatment. A 65-year-old man was hospitalized for pneumonia. During hospitalization he developed acute renal failure secondary to acute tubular necrosis. The patient had woody indurated plaques on his upper extremities and trunk, and brown indurated plaques on his trunk. Histopathological examination revealed a spindle cell proliferation infiltrating through the dermis and subcutis with mild mucin deposition. Nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy is a novel fibrosing disorder diagnosed clinically and histopatholigically. Currently no risk factors other than renal failure have been identified. Our patient is a unique example of NFD observed in acute renal failure secondary to acute tubular necrosis, never requiring dialysis. We also review the four other cases of acute NFD never requiring dialysis that have been reported in the literature.

Itch in systemic disease: therapeutic options

A new pathophysiologically based classification of itch is proposed, which should help the clinician adopt a rational approach to diagnosis and management of generalized itch. Focusing on neurogenic itch (itch without visible rash), common causes are reviewed and guidelines for laboratory and radiologic investigation are proposed. A stepwise approach to the management of generalized itch resulting from systemic disease is recommended. Specifically, the relative merits of broad versus narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) are discussed and the pros and cons of doxepin, opioid antagonists, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as paroxetine are considered. Attention is drawn to some novel approaches, including bright-light phototherapy and molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) for selected patients with intractable itch caused by hepatic failure, and mirtazapine for nocturnal itch.

Doxepin inhibits CYP2D6 activity in vivo

OBJECTIVE

Doxepin is a tricyclic antidepressant formulated as a mixture of E-(trans) and Z-(cis) stereoisomers. Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) catalyzes the hydroxylation of E-doxepin and E-N-desmethyldoxepin stereospecically. There is evidence that tricyclic antidepressants might inhibit CYP2D6 activity but there is no data about the influence of doxepin on CYP2D6.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eleven patients diagnosed with depression according to ICD-10 criteria were included in the study. After wash-out period, before doxepin treatment, sparteine metabolic ratio (MR1) was assessed. After 2-weeks of doxepin treatment, MR2 was estimated. Sparteine and its metabolites were determined in urine by gas chromatographic method of Eichelbaum et al.

RESULTS

Based on MR1 values, 10 patients were classified as EM (extensive metabolizers) and 1 patient as PM (poor metabolizer). During the study, after doxepin treatment, none of patients has changed phenotype status. However, MR2 values were statistically significantly higher than MR1.

CONCLUSION

These results show the inhibitory effect of doxepin on CYP2D6 activity and may be of clinical value, especially in polymedicated patients treated with other CYP2D6 substrates or inhibitors.

Are selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors associated with an increased risk of self-harm by antidepressant overdose?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate likelihood of self-harm by overdose with antidepressant drugs of different types by examining hospital admission data and poisons inquiries and relating them to prescribing.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on overdose admissions, poisons inquiries and prescribing of antidepressants in Edinburgh and Scotland.

SETTING

Poisons treatment unit of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and its surrounding catchment for overdose cases and Scotland for poisons inquiries.

PARTICIPANTS

All patients admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2002 with an overdose involving an antidepressant.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Overdose admissions (patients) in relation to prescribing in Edinburgh and poisons inquiries in relation to prescription rates in Scotland.

RESULTS

There were 1656 admissions involving 1343 patients. The likelihood of admission for an individual patient in relation to volume of prescribing (likelihood ratio: 95%CI) in the catchment was somewhat smaller for amitriptyline (0.83:0.74-0.92) and sertraline (0.79:0.63-0.99), and somewhat greater for mirtazapine (1.99:1.57-2.51), trazadone (1.30:1.09-1.54) and venlafaxine (0.97:1.81-1.16) [corrected] For poisons inquiries in Scotland, the excess for venlafaxine and mirtazapine was confirmed and likelihood of an inquiry lowest for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no evidence of an excess likelihood of presentation with overdose with SSRIs, and the likelihood was reduced with sertraline. There was a small excess of both admissions and poisons inquiries for mirtazapine and venlafaxine. This is a concern in view of the increased toxicity of venlafaxine in overdose in comparison with SSRIs.

Antidepressant-related erectile dysfunction: management via avoidance, switching antidepressants, antidotes, and adaptation

The ideal antidepressant would control depression with no adverse effect on sexual function. Erectile dysfunction and other sexual dysfunction associated with antidepressant medication treatment are problems with many antidepressants and can lead to patient dissatisfaction and decreased compliance with treatment. A computerized MEDLINE search (English language, 1966-2003) was performed using the terms antidepressive agents, erectile dysfunction, and sexual dysfunction. Emphasis was placed on studies with specific sexual function measurements taken before and after treatment and placebo control. Mixed mediator, nonserotonergic antidepressants that block postsynaptic serotonin type 2 receptors (nefazodone, mirtazapine) or that primarily increase dopamine or norepinephrine levels (bupropion) were thought to be good choices for avoiding antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction or for switching patients in whom antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction emerged. Comparisons with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) have revealed less desire and orgasm dysfunction with nonserotonergic bupropion, less orgasm dysfunction with nefazodone, and superior overall satisfaction with sexual functioning with bupropion or nefazodone. However, most of these studies have design flaws that make evidence-based claims of efficacy difficult to substantiate. Agents proposed for antidote use in antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction have either not been studied in men or not proved efficacious in randomized placebo-controlled trials. Switching to and augmentation with bupropion or nefazodone have also not clearly shown efficacy in controlled trials and require care and monitoring to avoid SRI discontinuation symptoms and loss of antidepressant efficacy. Few proposed treatment options, apart from avoidance, have proved effective for antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction, which can have negative consequences on depression management.

Topical application of the tricyclic antidepressant doxepin can reduce dysuria and frequency

The aim of this article is to highlight a novel treatment for the symptoms of chronic urethral and trigonal irritation. A patient with severe urethral hyperaesthesia who derived almost complete alleviation of symptoms with topical application of a tricyclic antidepressant cream is described. The possible modes of action of tricyclics when used via the topical route of administration are described. Topical application of a tricyclic antidepressant cream may alleviate the symptoms of urethral hyperaesthesia.

The sleep-improving effects of doxepin are paralleled by a normalized plasma cortisol secretion in primary insomnia. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, cross-over study followed by an open treatment over 3 weeks

RATIONALE

In primary care, sedating antidepressants are often used for treating insomnia, although their underlying sleep-promoting mechanisms are only incompletely understood. Since enhanced evening and nocturnal plasma cortisol levels are supposed to maintain insomniac sleep complaints, a functional link between sleep and cortisol secretion in the mode of action of antidepressants in insomnia might be suspected.

OBJECTIVES

We therefore investigated the effects of the tricyclic antidepressant doxepin on nocturnal sleep and plasma cortisol concentration in ten patients (age 41.3+/-9.5 years) with chronic primary insomnia between 1700 hours and 0800 hours.

METHODS

Single infusions of placebo and 25 mg doxepin were applied following a double-blind, randomized cross-over design. Afterward, all patients received 25 mg doxepin p.o. for 3 weeks in an open-study design.

RESULTS

Both doxepin application forms improved sleep significantly and reduced mean cortisol levels from 9.0+/-1.7 microg/l (single placebo i.v.) to 7.5+/-1.6 microg/l (single doxepin i.v.) or 7.6+/-2.0 microg/l (subchronic doxepin p.o.). The duration of the quiescent period of the cortisol rhythm was significantly prolonged following both doxepin administrations compared with placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

The results implicate that the sleep-improving effects of doxepin are mediated at least in part by a normalization of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functions. Although in some patients rebound insomnia and specific side effects must be considered, our findings give a further rationale for the use of antidepressants in the treatment of primary insomnia.

Therapeutic drug monitoring of tricyclic antidepressants: how does it work under clinical conditions?

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) is established in the treatment of depression to optimize outcome and safety. However, there are few reports on TDM under naturalistic clinical conditions. In the present study, we investigated a TDM group (TDM) and a randomly assigned parallel group without TDM (no-TDM) while on TCA treatment. Serum levels were analyzed in both cohorts, but feedback and dose recommendation were only provided for the TDM group. Serum levels of TCA were assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The outcome was measured weekly using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI), and the UKU side-effect scale. 84 patients with depressive disorder according to DSM-IV were recruited in three centers (TDM, n = 43; no-TDM, n = 41; mean age 49.9 +/- 13.2 years, 63.1 % female). Patients were treated with either amitriptyline (n = 69) or doxepin (n = 15); the mean dosage at endpoint was 126 +/- 35 mg and 155 +/- 47 mg, respectively. The mean study duration was 21 +/- 8 days. Both groups improved according to HAMD (from 25.2 +/- 8.4 at baseline to 12.0 +/- 7.4 at endpoint) and CGI scores (68 % responders). Moderately severe or severe side effects occurred in 16 % of patients. Adequate dose adjustment was significantly higher in the TDM group (60 % vs. 46 %, p < 0.05); this led to a significantly higher rate of therapeutic serum levels in the TDM group (58 % vs. 44 %, p < 0.05). Direct effects of TDM were not found for effectiveness. Therapeutic TCA serum levels over weeks one to three, however, were associated with significantly better outcome at endpoint (p < 0.05) as measured with changes in the HAMD or CGI response rates from baseline to endpoint. Finally, considerable side effects occurred significantly more often when serum levels were above the therapeutic range (27 % vs. 11 %; p < 0.01). We conclude that treating depression with TCA can be optimized by early TDM, which is superior to clinical judgment on its own. Since the psychiatrists in charge were less than completely "compliant" to the recommendations provided together with serum levels, the effect could be more pronounced than this study shows. The results encourage further studies in order to optimize antidepressant pharmacotherapy when using TDM appropriately.

Tricyclic antidepressants as long-acting local anesthetics

Amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine, doxepin, desipramine, protriptyline, trimipramine, and maprotiline are tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) used orally in treating major depressive disorders. Recent studies showed that amitriptyline is more potent in blocking the sciatic nerve functions in vivo by local injection than bupivacaine, a long-acting local anesthetic. We therefore tested whether various TCAs could likewise act as local anesthetics in vivo after single injection via the rat sciatic notch. The duration of complete sciatic nerve blockade by TCAs and the time to reach full recovery were measured with neurobehavioral assays and compared with results from bupivacaine. Amitriptyline, doxepin, and imipramine at 5mM elicited a longer complete sciatic nerve blockade than did bupivacaine at 15.4mM (0.5%), whereas trimipramine and desipramine at 5mM produced a shorter blockade. In contrast, nortriptyline, protriptyline, and maprotiline failed to elicit complete sciatic nerve blockade. Thus, TCAs have very different efficacy as local anesthetics in vivo. The duration of rat sciatic nerve blockade in vivo by TCAs is not well correlated with the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of TCAs in blocking human cardiac Nav1.5 Na(+) channels expressed in human embryonic kidney cells. With this in vitro expression system, TCAs appear more potent than bupivacaine as Na(+) channel blockers in Nav1.5 Na(+) channels. We suggest that the ability of TCAs to pass through various membrane barriers within peripheral nerve trunks is crucial to their local anesthetic efficacy in vivo. TCAs with a tertiary amine appear more effective in penetrating these membrane barriers than TCAs with a secondary amine.

Oral Topical Doxepin Rinse: Anesthetic Effect in Normal Subjects

Oral doxepin rinse has been reported to provide pain relief in patients with oral mucosal lesions due to cancer or cancer therapy. The purpose of this study was to assess the anesthetic effect of doxepin oral rinse in normal subjects to identify the duration of effect and to contrast the anesthetic effect with reported pain relief in patients with oral mucosal lesions. Normal volunteers were provided a solution of doxepin (5 mg/mL) for oral rinsing. Oral numbness and adverse effects were recorded for a period of 4 h after rinsing. Doxepin rinse resulted in mucosal anesthesia in all subjects. Sedation/fatigue was reported in four of seven subjects. There were no taste complaints and no nausea reported. The limited duration of numbness/anesthesia in normal subjects compared with prior studies showing pain relief for more than 3 h in patients with mucosal lesions, suggests that the extended duration of pain relief in patients was due to analgesic effects rather than anesthetic effects. The majority of normal subjects reported sedation after use, but this was less common in patients with mucosal lesions.

[Cold-induced urticaria]

Cold urticaria is characterized by the development of urticaria, usually superficial and/or angioedematous reaction after cold contact. It was found predominantly in young women. The diagnosis is based on the history and ice cube test. Patients with a negative ice cube test may have represented systemic cold urticaria (atypical acquired cold urticaria) induced by general body cooling. The pathogenesis is poorly understood. Cold urticaria can be classified into acquired and familial disorders, with an autosomal dominant inheritance. Idiopathic cold urticaria is most common type but the research of a cryopathy is necessary. Therapy is often difficult. It is essential that the patient be warned of the dangers of swimming in cold water because systemic hypotension can occur. H1 antihistamines can be used for treatment of cold urticaria but the clinical responses are highly variable. The combination with an H2 antagonists is more effective. Doxepin may be useful in the treatment. Leukotriene receptor antagonists may be a novel, promising drug entity. In patients who do not respond to previous treatments, induction of cold tolerance may be tried.

Prescribing of psychotropics in the elderly: why is it so often inappropriate?

Psychotropic medications are an important treatment approach to mental health disorders; such disorders are common in the elderly population. Elderly patients are more likely to experience adverse effects from these agents than their younger counterparts due to age-related changes in pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic parameters. Because of these factors, inappropriate use of psychotropic medications in elderly patients has become a focus of concern. In general an agent is considered inappropriate if the risk associated with its use exceeds its benefit. Implicit and explicit criteria for inappropriate use of medications in the elderly have been created and include psychotropic agents. These criteria vary in their make-up but the explicit criteria tend to agree that amitriptyline, doxepin, and benzodiazepines that have long half-lives are not appropriate. Although explicit inappropriate medication criteria have been in existence since 1991, elderly patients continue to receive inappropriate psychotropic medications. A wide array of factors may be responsible for this practice. Provider-related causes include deficits in knowledge, confusion due to the lack of a consensus on the inappropriate psychotropic criteria, difficulties in addressing an inappropriate medication started by a previous provider, multiple prescribers and pharmacies involved in the care of a patient, negative perceptions regarding aging, and cost issues. Patients may contribute to the problem by demanding an inappropriate medication. Finally, the healthcare setting may inadvertently contribute to inappropriate prescribing by such policies as restrictive formularies or lack of reimbursement for pharmacists' clinical services. Successful approaches to optimising prescribing have been either educational or administrative. Educational approaches (e.g. one-on-one sessions, academic detailing) seek to influence decision making, while administrative approaches attempt to enforce policies to curtail the undesired practice. The US Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, which improved psychotropic medication use in long-term care, is an excellent example of administrative intervention. More research specifically focused on the causes of inappropriate psychotropic medication use and methods to avoid this practice is needed before targeted recommendations can be made.

Drugs and breast-feeding

(1) Report of severe adverse effects in infants from drugs passing into breast milk are rare. (2) Two reports of neurological disorders in infants due to doxepin, a tricyclic antidepressant, necessitating hospitalisation, serve as a reminder that this risk exists. (3) Epidemiological data are almost non existent. A prospective follow-up study of more than 800 breast-fed infants whose mothers were taking medicinal drugs showed minor adverse effects in 11% of the children (mainly diarrhoea, drowsiness and irritability). None of the mothers sought medical advice. (4) When a breast-feeding mother requires drug therapy, all available information should be weighed up before advising her to switch to bottle feeding.

Effect of nonnicotine pharmacotherapy on smoking behavior

Smoking-related disease is the single biggest preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, yet approximately 25% of Americans continue to smoke. Various dosage forms of nicotine replacement therapy increase smoking quit rates relative to placebo, but they generally do not result in 1-year quit rates of over 20%. To increase these rates, a number of nonnicotine agents have been investigated. Drugs that modulate noradrenergic neurotransmission (bupropion, nortriptyline, moclobemide) are more effective than those affecting serotonin (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, buspirone, ondansetron) or other neurotransmitters.