title: Once-weekly fluoxetine.
abstract: The relatively long half-life of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine has allowed the development of a delayed-release (enteric-coated) formulation containing 90 mg fluoxetine per capsule for once-weekly oral administration. The cumulative relapse rate in patients switched to once-weekly fluoxetine 90 mg for 25 weeks (after responding to 13 weeks of fluoxetine 20 mg/day) was similar to that in patients continuing to receive fluoxetine 20 mg/day and significantly lower than seen in patients switched to placebo. The efficacy of the once-weekly formulation was also similar to that of the daily formulation in other assessment parameters (modified 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Clinical Global Impressions - Severity of Illness Scale). Patient compliance (measured using an electronically monitored tablet bottle) was maintained at 87.5% in evaluable patients receiving once-weekly fluoxetine 90 mg for 12 weeks from a baseline of 85.4% after responding to 4 weeks of fluoxetine 20 mg/day; in contrast, compliance declined significantly (from 87.3% at baseline to 79.4%; p < 0.001) in patients continuing to receive 20 mg/day for 12 weeks. Once-weekly fluoxetine is well tolerated, with a tolerability profile similar to that of the immediate-release formulation.
authors.affiliation: Adis International Limited, Auckland, New Zealand. demail@adis.co.nz
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wagstaff
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Goa
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005473:Fluoxetine