Creating more effective antidepressants: clues from the clinic.
Antidepressant medications have eased the suffering of millions of people. In addition to treating depression, antidepressant drugs also treat several anxiety disorders. Unfortunately, there are problematic limitations with antidepressant agents, including a delayed therapeutic response and insufficient efficacy. Emerging evidence shows that atypical antipsychotic agents can be used as augmentation therapy in patients with poor responses to antidepressants. Future drugs combining key features of antidepressant and atypical antipsychotic agents could offer new promise for patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and depression.
Rasmussen
Kurt
K
Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly & Co, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA. rasmussen_kurt@lilly.com
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015195:Drug Design; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000077152:Olanzapine; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011968:Receptors, Histamine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018967:Risperidone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D011968:Receptors, Histamine; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine