[Problems of current antidepressant drugs].
Currently, 17 antidepressant drugs are available in Japan. They are certainly evaluated as effective drugs based on abundant clinical evidence. However, treatment outcome of mood disorders does not seem to tremendously advance despite the growing number of antidepressant drugs available in clinical practice. The current antidepressant drugs, including SSRIs and SNRI, have common shortcomings from several clinical standpoints, such as 1) efficacy rate remains at 60-70%, 2) lack of immediate onset of efficacy, 3) side effects, 4) no pleasant effect, and 5) difficult prediction of efficacy for each drug. These problems are largely due to a fact that their prototypes are common. New strategy for development of antidepressants is expected.
Nomura
Soichiro
S
Department of Psychiatry, National Defense Medical College, 3-2, Namiki, Tokorozawa, 359-8513 Japan.
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors