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Biomedical subjects

B Woggon

Publications and source records attributed to B Woggon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[New antidepressive drugs].

Five of the available eight substance groups known as antidepressants has been developed during the last years: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), serotonin antagonists, reversible selective inhibitors of monoaminooxidase A (RIMA) and St. Johns word. Two main ideas were important for their development: more specific biochemical effects and less side effects. This development is going further. During the next years at least three new substance groups with new biochemical effects will come on the market. The growing spectrum of antidepressants is important for avoiding therapy resistant depression.

Adult↗

[Pharmacologic treatment of depression].

The pharmacological treatment of depression is focussed on antidepressants. Different substance groups with different biochemical mechanisms and side effects have antidepressant effects. Based on these different substances the pharmacological treatment of depression has become more and more differentiated. The combination of antidepressants and other drugs (lithium, carbamazepine, benzodiazepines, stimulants, antipsychotics, hormones) offers additional possibilities. The combination with other biological treatments of depression enlarges the spectrum of treatments. The inclusion of non-biological therapies makes the therapeutic possibilities with proven antidepressant efficacy rich and powerful.

Antidepressive Agents↗

[New psychotropic drugs--is only the price new?].

In this article a complete overview on all antidepressants and antipsychotics available at present is presented. The effects and side effects of the individual substance classes are systematically discussed and possible interactions stressed. Because of the great variety of available substances an appropriate medication may be found for every case.

Antidepressive Agents↗

Steady state concentrations of the enantiomers of mianserin and desmethylmianserin in poor and in homozygous and heterozygous extensive metabolizers of debrisoquine.

Steady state concentrations of (S)- and (R)-mianserin and desmethylmianserin were measured in 21 homozygous extensive metabolizers (as determined by genotyping for mutations 3 [or A] and 4 [or B]), in seven heterozygous extensive metabolizers and in one poor metabolizer of debrisoquine, as well as in one patient receiving very high doses of mianserin (360 mg/day) and fluoxetine (160 mg/day), a strong cytochrome P450IID6 inhibitor. The mean dose of mianserin was (mean +/- SD, range: 67 +/- 63, 10 to 360 mg/day). High dispersions of the (S)/(R)-mianserin and desmethylmianserin ratios were observed (mean +/- SD, range: 2.10 +/- 1.01, 0.64 to 4.76, and 0.29 +/- 0.14, 0.08 to 0.57, respectively). The highest (S)/(R)-mianserin ratio was calculated for the poor metabolizer (4.76) agreeing with those results of a single-dose study with poor and extensive metabolizers of debrisoquine, in that the cytochrome P450IID6 is probably involved in the metabolism of mianserin with an enantioselectivity for the (S)-enantiomer. Nevertheless, the mean concentration-to-dose ratios for (S)- or (R)-mianserin or desmethylmianserin were not significantly different between homozygous and heterozygous and extensive metabolizers, and no particular values were measured in the poor metabolizer nor in the patient receiving fluoxetine. Furthermore, the (S)/(R)-mianserin ratio measured in the PM was only slightly higher than the second highest ratio (3.85) of an homozygous extensive metabolizer, whereas no particular value (2.92) was calculated for the patient taking fluoxetine. Finally, no significant differences in (S)/(R)-mianserin or (S)/(R)-desmethylmianserin were calculated between homozygous and heterozygous extensive metabolizers. Although the number of patients included in this study is too low to allow definite conclusions, the results suggest that the debrisoquine genotype has only a moderate influence on the steady state concentrations of the enantiomers of mianserin and desmethylmianserin.

Adult↗

A case of serotonin syndrome caused by venlafaxine and lithium.

Serotonin syndrome occurred under treatment with average dose of Venlafaxine and lithium in a 50 year-old female patient with a history of sensitiveness to SSRIs. Plasma levels of Venlafaxine and its metabolite were within reference range. Parmacogenetic evaluation indicated normal metabolic pathway.

Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation↗

[Recognizing anxiety and successful treatment].

It is an important task of the family doctor (general practitioner) to recognise anxiety disorders and treat them successfully. Patients and their relatives must be informed about the available effective treatment possibilities and about the right moment for their application in an individual patient. In difficult cases the family doctor can consult a psychiatrist. Based on the incidence of anxiety disorders it is not possible to send each patient to a psychiatrist for treatment. In many cases this is not necessary, a consilium or a telephone discussion is sufficient.

Anxiety Disorders↗

[Are there antidepressants specially indicated in certain depressive disorders?].

Treatment for depression has improved and several well tolerated antidepressants have been developed. The diagnosis is less important for the choice of treatment than the severity of the symptoms. Antidepressants are indicated if a depression is of at least moderate severity. For many years attempt has been made to find specific criteria for the choice of the "right" antidepressant. At present the scientific results do not allow unequivocal formulation of criteria for the differential indication of antidepressants. When treating patients we have nevertheless to decide which antidepressants to prescribe. Based on scientific results and long therapeutic experience, the author indicates which antidepressants may be more successful in which depression (retarded depression, agitated depression, delusional depression, suicidal ideas, anxiety, obsessive compulsive symptoms, eating disorders and atypical depression).

Antidepressive Agents↗

The role of moclobemide in endogenous depression: a survey of recent data.

Earlier studies demonstrated that moclobemide has good efficacy as an antidepressant. Its efficacy was comparable to reference antidepressants, both in endogenous and non-endogenous depression. A meta-analysis was performed of recent data from more than 2000 patients who had participated in double-blind trials with moclobemide and comparison drugs. Based on HAMD-17 baseline scores, the sample was divided into three groups according to the severity of depression. In all three, moclobemide was as effective as comparison drugs, both in endogenous and non-endogenous depression. The antidepressant efficacy of both moclobemide and reference drugs was more pronounced in endogenous than in non-endogenous depression, whatever the severity.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗

Methodology of measuring the efficacy of antidepressants--European viewpoint.

The 1988 Consensus Conference on the Methodology of Clinical Trials of Antidepressants developed a European viewpoint on the methodology of measuring the efficacy of antidepressants. Placebo-controlled, parallel group trials are necessary but problematic. To test the efficacy of a new antidepressant, only patients with recognized depressive disorder of at least moderate severity should be included. In double-blind trials comparing a novel antidepressant with a well known reference drug, effective doses of the reference drug should be used. Efficacy can best be demonstrated in non-treatment-resistant patients. The recommended length of trials for proof of antidepressant efficacy is at least 4 weeks.

Antidepressive Agents↗

Dextromethorphan and mephenytoin phenotyping of patients treated with thioridazine or amitriptyline.

The metabolism of most tricyclic antidepressants and some phenothiazine neuroleptics is under the genetic control of hepatic cytochrome P-450IID6, which also regulates the metabolism of dextromethorphan. This study investigated the effect of treatment with amitriptyline or thioridazine on testing for genetically regulated efficiency of the metabolism of dextromethorphan and mephenytoin. One group of 33 patients was treated with 150 mg amitriptyline a day (the AMI group); 25 other patients received a daily dose of thioridazine, either 200 mg (200-THD group; n = 7) or 400 mg (400-THD group; n = 18). Before and after 10 days of this treatment, all patients were tested with 25 mg dextromethorphan and 100 mg mephenytoin to determine their pharmacogenetic status with respect to their hepatic drug oxidizing systems (cytochrome P-450IID6 and P-450 MP). Two patients were poor metabolizers (PMs) of dextromethorphan and three of mephenytoin. Treatment with either psychotropic drug was without significant effect on the metabolism of mephenytoin, but both amitriptyline and thioridazine increased significantly the metabolic ratio of dextromethorphan/dextrorphan. Thioridazine had the effect of changing the pharmacogenetic status of 15 efficient metabolizers of dextromethorphan to poor metabolizers; amitriptyline did not have such an effect. There was no significant correlation between day-11 plasma levels of thioridazine, mesoridazine, or sulforidazine and the metabolism of dextromethorphan, but there was a correlation between the metabolism of dextromethorphan and plasma levels of amitriptyline and nortriptyline. Amitriptyline (p less than 0.05), but not thioridazine, decreases the ratio of conjugated/total dextrorphan in urine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Pharmacotherapy of depression].

Four cardinal rules for pharmacotherapy of depression are discussed: 1. Severity of depression is the main criterion for the decision to treat by drugs. 2. The profile of side effects of antidepressants furnishes the arguments for drug selection. 3. Sufficiently high doses are the main prerequisite for rapid and strong response. 4. The sooner the treatment with an antidepressant is initiated, the earlier an effect of treatment can be expected.

Antidepressive Agents↗

Effect of neuroleptics on positive and negative symptoms and the deficit state.

The concept of negative symptoms tries to operationalize a deficit syndrome observed in schizophrenia, but also in other disorders. The instruments for the measurement developed so far are unclear in their dimensional structure and validity. Further methodological development is needed. A new scale for measuring negative symptoms was derived from the AMDP-system and applied to results of drug trials with clozapine, fluperlapine, and haloperidol. The three drugs were equally effective on negative symptoms of acute and chronic schizophrenics.

Antipsychotic Agents↗