| 
References:
     
·        
    Pharmacotherapy
    principle and practice 
·        
    BPAC
    pharmacological management of depression in adult. 
·        
    Ministry
    of health NZ depression and management. | 
| 
Definition | 
·  
  A serious
  medical condition with a biological foundation; it responds to biological
  & psychological treatments 
·  
  Significant
  and pervasive symptoms that can affect mood, thinking, physical health, work
  and relationships | 
| 
Signs & symptoms | 
·  
  Emotional: depressed mood (sadness), anhedonia (inability
  to experience pleasure), pessimism, feeling of emptiness, irritability,
  anxiety, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, thoughts of death/suicidal
  intention 
·  
  Physical: disturbed sleep, change in appetite/weight,
  psychomotor changes, decreased energy, fatigue, bodily aches and pain 
· 
  Cognitive: impaired concentration, indecisiveness, poor
  memory | 
| 
Risk factors | 
·  
  Parental
  history of depression, difficult temperament as a child; attachment
  difficulties/parental neglect 
·  
  Family
  discord; previous depression/anxiety in adulthood | 
| 
Diagnosis | 
·  
  At least 5
  depressive symptoms for at least 2 weeks: depressed mood, diminished interest
  or pleasure in usual activities, ↑/↓ in appetite or weight, ↑/↓ in amount of
  sleep, ↑/↓ in psychomotor activity, fatigue or loss of energy, feelings of
  worthlessness or guilt, diminished ability to think, concentrate or make
  decisions; recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal ideation or suicide attempt 
·  
  SIG E CAPS -
  depression, sleep, interest, guilt, energy, concentration, appetite, psychomotor,
  suicide | 
| 
Epidemiology | 
Cause is unknown; females are ~ twice as likely
  as males to experience MDD; average age at onset is mid 20s | 
| 
Pathophysiology | 
·  
  Biogenic
  amine hypothesis: Depression may be caused
  by decreased brain levels of the neurotransmitters NE, 5-HT &DA 
·  
  Postsynaptic
  changes in receptor sensitivity: 
  desensitization/down-regulation of NE or 5- HT1A receptors may relate
  to onset of antidepressant effects 
·  
  Dysregulation
  hypothesis: failure of homeostatic
  regulation of neurotransmitter systems, rather than absolute ↑/↓ in their
  activities. Effective antidepressants are theorized to restore efficient
  regulation to these systems 
·  
  5-HT/NE-link
  hypothesis: there is a link between
  5-HT and NE activity, and that both the serotonergic and noradrenergic
  systems are involved in the antidepressant response 
·  
  The role of
  DA: increased DA
  neurotransmission in the mesolimbic pathway may be related to the mechanism
  of action of antidepressants | 
| 
Goals | 
·  
  To eliminate
  or reduce the symptoms of depression, minimize adverse effects, ensure
  compliance with the therapeutic regimen, facilitate a return to a premorbid
  level of functioning. 
·  
  Return to
  euthymia; prevent relapse and suicide attempts | 
| 
Pharmacological treatment
   | 
·  
  SSRI: eg: fluoxetine, paroxetine, citalopram; 1st line
  for generalized anxiety disorder & for post-traumatic stress
  disorder; inhibit the reuptake of serotonin -> more serotonin available in
  the brain -> enhances neurotransmission, sends nerve impulses &
  improves mood 
o Patients should be treated for at least 12 weeks
  before assessing the efficacy, may need to be continued for 6-12 months after
  symptoms of anxiety have resolved 
o Side effects – stomach upset, suicidal thoughts, serotonin toxicity, SIADH (low
  Na), sedation, sexual dysfunction 
o Interactions – SSRIS are CYP450 inhibitors -> can ↑ plasma conc of other drugs
  metabolized via CYP; ↑ bleeding risk with anticoagulants & NSAIDs; ↑
  serotonergic effect with St John Wort & MAOI (-> serotonin syndrome
  -> avoid concomitant use); SSRIs may enhance the plasma conc &
  toxicity of TCAs 
o Monitor – clinical worsening, suicidality 
o Patient counselling – may impair ability to drive or operate
  machinery; do not stop abruptly; avoid alcohol 
·  
  TCAs: eg: amitriptyline, clomipramine, dothiepin, imipramine, maprotilene,
  mianserin, nortriptyline, trimipramine; used as 2nd line;
  block reuptake of 5-HT & NA, antagonist of α1, ACh M1 & H1 receptors 
o Side effects – cardiac arrhythmia, cholinergic(anti), constipation, confusion,
  continence (urinary retention) 
o Interactions – TCAs potentiate the effects of alcohol & other CNS depressants;
  potentiate SEs of anticholinergic drugs, & the hypertensive & cardiac
  effects of sympathomimetic 
o Monitor – BP, blood counts, LFTs; do not start TCA or SSRI 2 weeks after
  stopping MAOI 
o Patient counselling – may cause drowsiness: do not operate
  machinery; avoid alcohol; do not stop abruptly; may cause photosensitivity
  reactions 
·  
  MAOI: used as 3rd line; non-selective – phenelzine,
  tranylcypromine; selective reversible (RIMA) – moclobemide 
o Interactions – hypertensive effect with tyramine containing foods (mature cheese
  -> cheese reaction; red wine, marmite, etc), levodopa, sympathomimetics;
  antagonize effects of antihypertensive agents; enhance effect of
  anaesthetics, antidiabetic agents, sumatriptan, opioids & nefopam,
  antiepileptics, antihistamines, antipsychotics; serotonergic effect with
  other antidepressants -> serotonin syndrome 
o Monitoring – clinical worsening, suicidality 
o Patient counselling – avoid cheese, protein extracts & other
  foods/drinks with high tyramine content; limit alcohol, caffeine intake; do
  not stop abruptly; may impair ability to drive/operate machinery 
·  
  SNRI: eg: venlafaxine; 2nd line; inhibits 5-HT
  & NA reuptake (greater effect on 5-HT at lower doses) 
o Side effects – asthenia/fatigue, hypertension, loss of appetite, headache,
  somnolence, dizziness, insomnia, nervousness, nausea, constipation, sexual
  dysfunction, weakness, neck pain, diaphoresis 
o Interactions – cimetidine ↑ venlafaxine conc; venlafaxine ↑ plasma conc of
  antiarrhythmics, warfarin & phenothiazines; enhanced anticholinergic
  toxicity with TCAs; ↑ toxicity with SSRIs & MAOIs ( serotonin syndrome) 
·  
  NRI: eg: reboxetine; inhibits NA reuptake, weakly inhibit 5-HT
  reuptake 
o Side effects – insomnia, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, tachycardia, impaired
  visual accommodation 
o Interactions – MAOIs should not be started until 1 week after stopping NRI (risk
  of acute hypertensive crises); avoid NRI 2 weeks after stopping MAOIs 
o Patient counselling – may cause sleepiness: limit alcohol; do not
  drive/operate machinery 
·  
  Presynaptic α2 antagonist: (centrally acting) eg: mirtazapine; 3rd
  line; blocks presynaptic α2 receptors -> ↑ in NE & 5-HT; blocks
  postsynaptic 5-HT & H1 receptors 
o Side effects – weight gain, dry mouth, postural hypotension, edema, drowsiness,
  confusion, anxiety, insomnia, arthralgia 
o Interactions – avoid concomitant use with MAOIs or within 2 weeks after stopping
  MAOIs; additive serotonergic effects with other serotonergic active
  substances; may ↑ sedating properties of benzodiazepines & other
  sedatives; may ↑ CNS depressant effect of alcohol; cimetidine (weak inhibitor
  of CYP) ↑ mirtazapine plasma conc (-> ↓ mirtazapine dose); CBZ &
  phenytoin, CYP3A4 inducers ↑ its clearance (-> ↑ its dose) | 
| 
Non-pharmacological
  treatment | 
·  
  Psychotherapy – (interpersonal, cognitive & behavioral
  therapy) interactive processes allow the exploration of thoughts, feelings
  & behavior for the purpose of problem solving or achieving higher levels
  of functioning 
·  
  ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) – electrically-induced in patients to provide
  relief from psychiatric illnesses; used as last line of intervention; monitor
  BP, oxygen, HR during therapy; monitor brain waves, seizure activity &
  cognitive function; ADRs – rare & short term: headache, nausea, muscle
  aches 
·  
  Bright light therapy – patients look into an into a 10000-lux
  intensity light box for ~ 30/day; used for patients with SAD (seasonal
  affective disorder) & as adjunctive use for MDD; ADRs – eye strain,
  headache, insomnia, hypomania | 
Depression treatment plan:
| 
Depression
    treatment strategies: 
·        
    Antidepressants
    selection is multifactorial drug & patient characteristics and previous
    response. 
·        
    But most of the
    time SSRIs are generally first line treatment for healthy adult, elderly,
    small kids and breast feeding women. (see DIAGRAM 1) 
·        
    In breast feeding,
    citalopram provides lower drug exposure compared to fluoxetine 
·        
    TCAs are relatively
    safe in pregnancy. Possible link to congenital abnormalities to exposure to
    paroxetine in the first trimester and perhaps other exposure outcomes with
    other SSRIs.  
·        
    Fluoxetine,
    Paroxetine and mirtazapine are safe for diabetic patient. 
·        
    SSRI are safer than
    other AD in management of hypertensive patient. 
·        
    Venlafaxine (SNRI)
    is used third line after unsatisfactory response to trial of 2 other
    antidepressants. Special authority is required. 
·        
    Non-pharmacological
    therapy can be considered at any stage: 
Ø  Psychotherapy
    – (interpersonal, cognitive & behavioral therapy) interactive processes
    allow the exploration of thoughts, feelings & behavior for the purpose
    of problem solving or achieving higher levels of functioning 
Ø  ECT
    (electroconvulsive therapy)
    – electrically-induced in patients to provide relief from psychiatric
    illnesses; used as last line of intervention; monitor BP, oxygen, HR during
    therapy; monitor brain waves, seizure activity & cognitive function;
    ADRs – rare & short term: headache, nausea, muscle aches 
Ø  Bright light
    therapy – patients look into an into a
    10000-lux intensity light box for ~ 30/day; used for patients with SAD
    (seasonal affective disorder) & as adjunctive use for MDD; ADRs – eye
    strain, headache, insomnia, hypomania | 
| 
Other important monitoring, precaution, and management: 
·        
    Monitor ADR of AD
    used. Eg if SSRI used: 
·        
    Beware of drug interaction.
    (DIAGRAM 5) 
Ø  Eg for SSRI: CYP 450
    interactions:  
o  
    Inhibitor of CYP1A2, e.g.
    fluvoxamine (strong)  
o   
    Inhibitor of CYP2D6, e.g.
    fluoxetine (strong), paroxetine (strong), sertraline (weak)  
o   
    Inhibitor of CYP 3A4 e.g. fluvoxamine 
·        
    Most AD can cause
    orthostatic hypotension. 
Ø  Thus concomitant
    use of antihypertensive agents can enhance the risk orthostatic hypotension
    .Thus patients should be advised to lie down and raise their legs if
    symptoms such as dizziness, pallor and/or sweating occur 
·        
    When changing
    antidepressants different washout periods are required depending on the
    class of drug and the actual drug. (see
    DIAGRAM 6 
·        
    Evaluate treatment response
    only after 4-6 weeks after the treatment started. (DIAGRAM 7) 
 DIAGRAM 1 
DIAGRAM 2 DIAGRAM 3 DIAGRAM 4 DIAGRAM 5 DIAGRAM 6 DIAGRAM 7 | 
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