After many years of trying, Wyeth finally received FDA approval for its new antidepressant, Pristiq (desvenlafaxine). Don’t get too excited, though – Pristiq is simply the active metabolite of Effexor and it’s unclear whether it adds anything of value to our current quiver of antidepressants.
We typically warn our patients about common side effects, such as headache, GI distress and sexual dysfunction when we start SSRIs. Here are some of the side effects that we don’t necessarily talk to patients about, but should be able to recognize and discuss in particular contexts.
A former FDA reviewer and his colleagues obtained all FDA data on studies of 12 antidepressants approved between 1987 and 2004. They then scoured the journals to figure which of these studies had been published. They found that of the 74 FDA-registered trials of antidepressants, 23 (31%) had never been published.
Researchers used the Freedom of Information Act to retrieve all clinical trials data from the FDA on four different antidepressants: fluoxetine, venlafaxine, nefazodone, and paroxetine.
Dr. Jeste, I know that you were responsible for some of the original research demonstrating that tardive dyskinesia is a possible side effect of antipsychotics. Why were you interested in the topic?
The field of smoking cessation has been abuzz since the FDA approved Chantix (varenicline) in 2006. Pfizer’s studies showed better efficacy for Chantix than bupropion (Wellbutrin/Zyban), and the mechanism of action is fascinating. But several controversial issues have arisen to muddy the waters.
The NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) has recently posted a practical guide for professionals interested in improving their skills in evaluating and treating patients with alcohol problems. Here are some useful tips for treating alcoholism, adapted both from the NIAAA and other sources.
The current issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry carries a meta-analysis of different psychosocial interventions for the treatment of substance abuse (Dutra L et al., Am J Psychiatry 2008 165: 179-187). This review focuses specifically on techniques for treating abusers of cannabis, cocaine, and opiates. What works the best, and what techniques can you bring into your practice.
Psychostimulants are commonly added to antidepressants in order to augment their effects, but most of the clinical trials have been either open or small controlled trials. In what may be the largest trial done to date, these investigators (who received funding from Janssen-Ortho, the maker of Concerta) randomized 145 depressed patients...