title: [The treatment of severe, therapy-resistant depression using infusions of antidepressants].
abstract: Infusion-therapy with antidepressants has been of value in severe as well as therapy resistant depressive states. In addition to doses lower than those used for oral treatment, a more rapid onset of therapeutic effect and a better tolerance, the beneficial effect seems also to depend on the setting in which the treatment takes place. Infusion-therapy is a combined pharmacopsychotherapeutic procedure. Next to infusion-treatment a pretreatment with neuroleptics is advised either via the oral or parenteral route. In extremely refractory depression the infusion-therapy can be applied twice a day; in some cases we resort to continuous infusion for a few days. Infusion-therapy is not applicable in patients prone to epileptic seizures or with serious cerebral dysfunction with a risk of delirium. In case of doubt an EEG is mandatory. Tricyclic antidepressants may not be used in cardiac diseases especially those with troubles of the conduction propagation or repolarization.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pöldinger
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dirnhofer-Bertolini
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
vernacular_title: Die Behandlung schwerer therapieresistenter Depressionen mit Infusion von Antidepressiva.