New Discussion-- Pharmacotherapy of Depression

[Guest guest]

Scales for assessment of depression in clinical trials

1.THE HAMILTON RATING SCALE FOR DEPRESSION

A set of 21 questions for assessment of severity of depression in patients already diagnosed with depression.

2.Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)

3.CLINICAL GLOBAL IMPRESSION (CGI)

4.BECK DEPRESSION INVENTORY SCALE (BDIS)

Dr Ankush Gaikwad

Second year resident, Department of Pharmacology

GMC, Nagpur

[Guest guest]

Repected members,

Various drug interaction occur when the patient is on anti-depressant drugs.

Folowing are the important interactions.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

MAO I and SSRIs can potentiate the effects of TCAs and lead to their toxicity

SSRIs if combined with other serotonergic / MAOI / opioid / ECT / Lithium – Serotonergic syndrome. More common with fluoxetine.

MAOI should not be started for 5 wks after discontinuing fluoxetine

SSRIs inhibit P450 enzyme inhibition leading to increase in the conc of antipsychotics, BZDs, TCAs

Protein displacement with TCAs – Aspirin, phenytoin, phenothaizines

Regards,

Dr Ankush Gaikwad

Second year resident, Department of PharmacologyGMC, Nagpur