title: Improving antidepressant adherence.
abstract: Frequently, patients suffering from depressive disorders discontinue antidepressant treatment due to the unpleasant side effects of these medications, particularly in the first month of therapy. Good tolerability (particularly in the early stages of treatment), patient education, and the quality of the relationship between physicians and patients are all common determining factors of patient adherence. Controlled-release antidepressant agents have the potential to improve tolerability early in the course of therapy, one of the most likely periods of dropout from treatment. Side effects for controlled-release formulations are often more favorable because controlled-release formulations exhibit lower peak plasma drug concentrations when compared with immediate-release formulations. Venlafaxine extended-release (XR), bupropion sustained-release (SR), and paroxetine controlled-release (CR) are 3 commonly utilized controlled-release antidepressants that have demonstrated improvement over their immediate-release predecessors in reducing certain adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. cnemero@emory.edu
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Nemeroff
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016642:Bupropion / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016642:Bupropion; D017374:Paroxetine; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride