Tianeptine therapy for depression in the elderly.
1. Depression is frequent in the elderly but difficult both to diagnose and treat due to a number of distinctive features. 2. Tianeptine is a novel antidepressant with a reverse mode of action to that of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors yet with proven efficacy and safety. 3. 63 elderly patients (mean age:68.8 years; range:65-80 years) with depressive symptoms (major depression:55.6%; dysthymia:44.4%) were included in a 3-month open multicenter study with tianeptine (25 mg daily). 4. 43 patients (68.2%) completed the study. There were no drop-outs due to side-effects. Total Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale scores were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) on day 14, with a response rate of 76.7%. 5. Improvements were also observed in anxiety and cognitive performance. Side-effects were seen in only 11.7% of patients, with no changes in laboratory or ancillary safety parameters. Tianeptine is thus effective and well tolerated in this category of patient.
Saiz-Ruiz
J
J
Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain. jeronimo.saiz@hrc.es
Montes
J M
JM
Alvarez
E
E
Cervera
S
S
Giner
J
J
Guerrero
J
J
Seva
A
A
Dourdil
F
F
López-Ibor
J J
JJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013841:Thiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D013841:Thiazepines; C050504:tianeptine