Citalopram to treat depression in pediatric oncology.
We describe the first four cases of an open-label study investigating the response to citalopram in a depressed pediatric oncology population. Advice from the Committee for Safety of Medicines (CSM) in the United Kingdom warning against the use of serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants other than fluoxetine in this age group led to the discontinuation of the study. Advantages of citalopram over fluoxetine in a medical setting are discussed in terms of its favorable drug-interaction profile and shorter half-life. Citalopram was very well tolerated in these patients and preliminary data are presented that support its efficacy as an antidepressant agent in these patients.
DeJong
Margaret
M
South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust and The Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, United Kingdom, and McGill University, Montreal, Canada. margaret.dejong@rmh.nhs.uk
Fombonne
Eric
E
D000293:Adolescent; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000523:psychology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors