Age, therapeutic "milieu" and clinical outcome in depressive patients treated with viloxazine: a study with plasma levels.
Authors studied 42 depressed patients of both sexes suffering from Major Depression and Dysthimic Disorder, treated with viloxazine for 4 weeks. All patients were divided into two groups on the basis of their age (Group 1 mean age 45 +/- 2.2 and Group 2 mean age 68.3 +/- 1.12). Viloxazine was effective in different depressive situations, regardless of the age of the patient or the therapeutic context, even if in Group 2 the out-patients did significantly better (p less than 0.01) than the hospitalized ones. Mean steady-state plasma levels and level/dose ratios were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in elderly patients than in younger ones. No correlation between viloxazine plasma levels-clinical efficacy and side-effects was found even though patients suffering from Major Depression showed a trend to a better response with plasma levels below 5 gamma/ml. The satisfactory antidepressant activity and the good tolerability of viloxazine in elderly depressed patients make this drug particularly suitable for using in ambulant geriatric depressed patients.
A C
AC
Altamura
M C
MC
Mauri
G
G
Guercetti
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009025:Morpholines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014745:Viloxazine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D009025:Morpholines; D014745:Viloxazine