Comparaison de deux outils de mesure des effets indésirables d’un traitement antidépresseur : la notification spontanée et l’échelle UKU

Temporal Profiles and Dose-Responsiveness of Side Effects with Escitalopram and Duloxetine in Treatment-Naïve Depressed Adults

Side effect profiles of antidepressants are relevant to treatment selection and adherence among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), but several clinically-relevant characteristics of side effects are poorly understood. We aimed to compare the side effect profiles of escitalopram and duloxetine, including frequencies, time to onset, duration, dose responsiveness, and impact on treatment outcomes. Side effects occurring in 211 treatment-naïve patients with MDD randomized to 12 weeks of treatment with flexibly-dosed escitalopram (10–20 mg/day) or duloxetine (30–60 mg/day) as part of the Predictors of Remission in Depression to Individual and Combined Treatments (PReDICT) study were evaluated. Escitalopram- and duloxetine-treated patients experienced a similar mean number of overall side effects and did not differ in terms of the specific side effects observed or their temporal profile. Experiencing any side effect during the first 2 weeks of treatment was associated with increased likelihood of trial completion (86.7% vs. 73.7%, p = 0.045). Duloxetine-treated patients who experienced dry mouth were significantly more likely to achieve remission than those who did not (73.7% vs. 44.8%, p = 0.026). Side effects that resolved prior to a dose increase were unlikely to recur after the increase, but only about 45% of intolerable side effects that required a dose reduction resolved within 30 days of the reduction. At the doses used in this study, escitalopram and duloxetine have similar side effect profiles. Understanding characteristics of side effects beyond simple frequency rates may help prescribers make more informed medication decisions and support conversations with patients to improve treatment adherence.

Side effect burden of antipsychotic drugs in real life - Impact of gender and polypharmacy

BACKGROUND

Antipsychotic-associated side effects are well known and represent a significant treatment challenge. Still, few large studies have investigated the overall side effect burden of antipsychotics in real-life settings.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the occurrence of side effects and perceived burden of antipsychotics in a large naturalistic sample, taking polypharmacy and patient characteristics into account.

METHOD

Patients (n=1087) with psychotic disorders were assessed for side effects using the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser (UKU) side effect rating scale in addition to assessment of clinical and pharmacological data. Statistical analyses were performed controlling for possible confounding factors.

RESULTS

Use of antipsychotics showed significant associations to neurologic and sexual symptoms, sedation and weight gain, and >75% of antipsychotics-users reported side effects. More side effects were observed in patients using several antipsychotics (p=0.002), with increasing total dose (p=0.021) and with antipsychotics in combinations with other psychotropic drugs. Patients and investigators evaluated the side effect burden differently, particularly related to severity, gender and antipsychotics dose. Twice as many females described side effect burden as severe (p=0.004).

CONCLUSION

Patients with psychotic disorders have a high occurrence of symptoms associated with use of antipsychotics, and polypharmacy and female gender are seemingly risk factors for reporting a severe side effect burden. Due to the cross-sectional design evaluation of causality is tentative, and these findings should be further investigated in prospective studies.

[Plasma levels of antipsychotics and the severity of side-effects in the treatment of schizophrenia exacerbation]

OBJECTIVE

To study a relationship between plasma levels of antipsychotics (AP) and severity of side-effects (SE) during the treatment of inpatients with exacerbation of schizophrenia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 39 patients treated with risperidone, haloperidol, zuclopenthixol, clozapine, aripiprazole or olanzapine as monotherapy or in combination of two AP. Blood sampling to measure the AP plasma level was performed twice (at 7-10 and 26-30 day from start of treatment), the levels of prolactin and glucose were determined once (at 26-30 day from start of treatment). Patients were assessed by psychometric scales PANSS and NSA and the side-effects scale UKU.

RESULTS

The increased concentration of AP was noted in 33% of the patients. The high concentration of AP was significantly associated with akathisia and hyperkinesia (by UKU scale), NSA retardation factor and hyperprolactinemia. Patients with severe hyperprolactinemia were twice as likely to have a clinically significant depression. Increased blood glucose levels were observed in 18% of the patients, there was no significant association with AP plasma levels. Mental SE were most prominent, with a drift towards the neurological SE in the group with higher AP plasma levels. Chlorpromazine equivalent didn't significantly differ in the groups with normal, high and low AP concentrations.

CONCLUSION

Elevated AP plasma levels, which were associated with some clinically significant SE and some negative symptoms, were found in most patients. In this regard, therapeutic drug monitoring is a promising method for the individualization of schizophrenia exacerbation treatment in routine clinical practice.

Safety and efficacy of oral escitalopram as continuation treatment of intravenous citalopram in patients with major depressive disorder

The objective of this open-label, multicentre study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of treatment with escitalopram (10 or 20 mg/day) for 6 weeks following a switch from intravenous citalopram treatment (20 or 40 mg/day) in patients presenting with a major depressive episode. A total of 173 patients were included, 147 (85%) of whom completed the study. The mean Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score at inclusion (last citalopram dose) was 31.6 +/- 9.9. The MADRS score decreased to 23.4 +/- 10.5 after 3 days of oral treatment with escitalopram and was 12.7 +/- 9.3 at the end of the study. The scores on the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and Patient Global Evaluation scales also improved: at the end of the study, the response rates were 67% on the MADRS (defined as >or=50% decrease from MADRS baseline score) and 68% on the CGI-I (defined as CGI-I <or=2). More than half of the patients were in remission (MADRS score <or=12). Overall, the switch from intravenous citalopram to escitalopram was well tolerated. In all, 57 patients (33%) reported at least 1 adverse event, and 7 patients (4%) were withdrawn due to an adverse event. The most frequently reported adverse events were probably linked to residual depressive symptoms (anxiety: 9%; insomnia: 5%). In conclusion, escitalopram was well tolerated as a continuation treatment after switching from intravenous citalopram and reduced depressive symptoms in patients with a moderate to severe major depressive episode.