Efficacy of milnacipran on poststroke depression on inpatient rehabilitation

Use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Outcomes in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Prospective Observational Pilot Cohort Study

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) therapy and rehabilitation outcomes, specifically disability and quality of life (QOL), in a real-world setting of multi-ethnic Asian patients with first-ever stroke.

Methods

In this prospective observational pilot cohort study, we included patients with first-ever stroke admitted to two inpatient rehabilitation centres in Singapore between January and July 2018. Outcomes were measured using Functional Independence Measure (FIM)-motor scale, modified Barthel Index (MBI) and the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39 generic (SAQOL-39g) questionnaire. Linear regression was used to assess the association between SSRI therapy and outcomes. Regression coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported.

Results

Among 57 patients included for analyses, 38.6% received SSRIs. Although SSRI therapy was significantly associated with gains in MBI (coefficient 11.35; 95% CI 0.21–22.50) and SAQOL-39g overall score (coefficient 0.45; 95% CI 0.05–0.85) based on simple linear regression, no significant association between SSRI therapy and any of the investigated outcomes was found after adjustment for confounders. However, an increase in the mean number of physiotherapy and occupational therapy (PT/OT) sessions per day significantly improved FIM-motor (coefficient 16.86; 95% CI 2.64–31.07) and MBI (coefficient 22.79; 95% CI 2.35–43.23) scores.

Conclusion

SSRI therapy did not improve disability and QOL in multi-ethnic Asian patients with first-ever stroke undergoing rehabilitation.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s40268-019-00287-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effects of Central Nervous System Drugs on Recovery After Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Pilot trials have suggested that pharmacotherapy may aid stroke recovery. The aim of this study was to systematically review the effects of antidepressants, anti-Alzheimer drugs, anti-Parkinson drugs, central nervous system (CNS) stimulants and piracetam on gross motor function, cognition, disability, dependency and quality of life (QOL) after stroke.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched, and 44 randomized controlled trials that compared outcomes of interest between drug treatment and placebo or no treatment were included. For each study, standardized mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Meta-analyses were conducted to pool results using either the fixed-effects or random-effects model.

RESULTS

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) improved gross motor function (SMD 0.54, 95% CI 0.22-0.85; three studies), disability (SMD 0.49, 95% CI 0.32-0.66; 14 studies) and QOL (MD 6.46, 95% CI 4.71-8.22; two studies), but there was insufficient evidence for their use in enhancing global cognition (SMD 0.23, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.46; five studies) and dependency (risk ratio 0.81, 95% CI 0.68-0.97; one fluoxetine study). In particular, gross motor function was improved by fluoxetine (SMD 0.64, 95% CI 0.31-0.98; two studies), while disability was improved by paroxetine (SMD 1.05, 95% CI 0.63-1.46; two studies), citalopram (SMD 0.51, 95% CI 0.08-0.93; two studies) and fluoxetine (SMD 0.41, 95% CI 0.22-0.60; nine studies). There is insufficient evidence for the use of anti-Alzheimer drugs, anti-Parkinson drugs, CNS stimulants and piracetam to promote stroke recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of SSRIs may improve gross motor function, reduce disability and enhance QOL for patients recovering from stroke.

Advances in antidepressants for treating post-stroke depression

INTRODUCTION

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common and serious complication after stroke, occurring in nearly one third of stroke survivors, and affecting mortality rate, functional outcome, rehabilitation results and quality of life. However, in the common clinical practice only a minority of patients are properly treated. A relatively small number of scientific reports are available on clinical usefulness and safety of antidepressants (ADs) in PSD. Areas covered: This report provides an updated review about pharmacological state of art of PSD, including efficacy and safety of different drugs and their role on prevention, treatment and functional outcome. Expert opinion: Even if currently an antidepressant treatment can improve depressive symptoms, neither the optimal drug nor the optimal lengths of treatment, have been identified. Serotonergic drugs are preferable because of their better safety profile, but in the recent years there has been an important debate on possible association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use and increased mortality. Another issue is the potential role of ADs for improving functional recovery. Newer ADs have interesting properties, in particular vortioxetine, due to its properties of enhancing cognitive functions, but further research is needed to clarify its/their role in treatment of PSD.

Milnacipran: beyond a role of antidepressant

Milnacipran is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) with negligible effects on any presynaptic or postsynaptic receptors. Milnacipran has unique pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics that distinguish it from the other marketed serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, and duloxetine such as equipotent serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition and a linear dose-concentration trend at therapeutic doses. The half-life of milnacipran is approximately 8 hours. In addition, milnacipran does not inhibit the cytochrome P 450 system, indicating minimal propensity for drug-drug interactions. The antidepressant efficacy of milnacipran has been clearly established in a number of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials, and it has been widely used for treating major depressive disorder. Moreover, evidence suggests that milnacipran is effective and tolerable in the treatment of fibromyalgia and may have usefulness for fatigue and anxiety symptoms. The current paper reviews researches conducted to date that is relevant to the efficacy, tolerability, and mechanism of action of milnacipran in the treatment of depression, fibromyalgia, and other psychiatric syndromes. Future directions of research are also identified.

Milnacipran

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Epidemiology and treatment of post-stroke depression

Mood depression is a common and serious complication after stroke. According to epidemiological studies, nearly 30% of stroke patients develop depression, either in the early or in the late stages after stroke. Although depression may affect functional recovery and quality of life after stroke, such condition is often ignored. In fact, only a minority of patients is diagnosed and even fewer are treated in the common clinical practice. Moreover, the real benefits of antidepressant (AD) therapy in post-stroke depression have not been fully clarified. In fact, controlled studies on the effectiveness of ADs in post stroke depression (PSD) are relatively few. Today, data available suggest that ADs may be generally effective in improving mood, but guidelines for the optimal treatment and its length are still lacking.

Sitting balance as an early predictor of functional improvement in association with depressive symptoms in stroke patients

The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between sitting balance at an early stage and activities of daily living (ADL) function in 452 stroke patients. The effect of sitting balance on the two core elements of depression (apathy and depressive mood) was also examined. The ability to maintain a sitting position for 10 min (10-min sitting balance) was assessed, along with ADL using the Functional Independence Measurement, and psychological status using the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (depressive mood), Apathy Scale (apathy) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Proportional-hazards analysis was used to determine the independent effect of post-stroke depression on functional outcome. Comparisons between sitting balance and psychological status were performed using logistic multiple regression analysis. Cox multiple regression analysis showed that significant differences were obtained for the sitting balance (P < 0.0002) and Mini-Mental State Examination scores (P < 0.02) in all six ADL subscales, and for age in four of the six ADL subscales (Dressing-Upper Body and Dressing-Lower Body, Toileting, Walking). Kaplan-Meier survival curves for reaching independence in ADL subscales showed highly significantly differences in achievement rate and time to reach goal for each subgroup on 10-min sitting balance (with or without assistance) and on age (young, <65; elderly, >/=65 years). Ten-minute sitting balance correlated with depressive mood and apathy. A rapid and simple screening method, 10-min sitting balance was related to scores for two core depressive symptoms, lowered mood and apathy, and was predictive of post-stroke ADL outcomes in the rehabilitation unit along with age.

Japanese experience with milnacipran, the first serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor in Japan

Milnacipran is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), with a balanced potency for the inhibition of the reuptake of the two monoamines. In this, it contrasts with venlafaxine and duloxetine which, while possessing a dual action, have a selectivity of the order of 30-fold and 10-fold respectively for the reuptake of serotonin. Milnacipran has mainly been launched in countries where the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and venlafaxine had been established for several years. As such it has attracted relative little interest from clinician investigators as a research tool. Japan, however, represents a unique situation because in 1999 milnacipran was launched within months of the first SSRI and is still the only SNRI in Japan together with only two SSRIs (a third has just been introduced). This has led to a large number of investigative clinical studies, many of which give interesting insights into the potential of milnacipran in the treatment of depression and of other disorders. This article reviews these Japanese studies with milnacipran.