вторник, 25 декабря 2012 г.

Случай злоупотребления кока-колой в рамках депрессии

BACKGROUND: Cola is an extremely popular caffeinated soft drink. The media have recently cited a poll in which 16% of the respondents considered themselves to be addicted to cola soft drinks. We find the contrast between the apparent prevalence of cola addiction and the lack of scientific literature on the subject remarkable. To our knowledge, this is the first case of cola dependency described in the scientific literature.
CASE PRESENTATION:
The patient is a 40-year-old woman, who when feeling down used cola to give her an energy boost and feel better about herself. During the past seven years her symptoms increased, and she was prescribed antidepressant medication by her family doctor. Due to worsening of symptoms she was hospitalised and later referred to a specialised outpatient clinic for affective disorders. At entry to the clinic she suffered from constant tiredness, lack of energy, failing concentration, problems falling asleep as well as interrupted sleep. She drank about three litres of cola daily, and she had developed a metabolic syndrome.The patient fulfilled the ICD-10 criteria for dependency, and on the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) she scored 40 points. Her clinical mental status was at baseline assessed by the Major Depression Inventory (MDI) = 41, Hamilton Depression - 17 item Scale (HAMD-17) = 14, Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) = 2 and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale = 45.During cognitive therapy sessions she was guided to stop drinking cola and was able to moderate her use to an average daily consumption of 200 ml of cola Her concentration improved and she felt mentally and physically better. At discharge one year after entry her YFAS was zero. She was mentally stable (MDI =1, HAMD-17 = 0, YMRS = 0 and GAF = 85) and without antidepressant medication. She had lost 7.2 kg, her waistline was reduced by 13 cm and the metabolic syndrome disappeared.
CONCLUSION:
This case serves as an example of how the overconsumption of a caffeinated soft drink likely was causing or accentuating the patient's symptoms of mental disorder. When diagnosing and treating depression, health professionals should pay attention to potential overuse of cola or other caffeinated beverages.
 A case of cola dependency in a woman with recurrent depression.

среда, 19 декабря 2012 г.

Полиморфизм CYP2D6 и приверженность лечению антидепрессантами

Early discontinuation of antidepressant drugs (ADPs) therapy is common, occurring in about 30% of patients by week 6.1, 2 Among the most relevant reasons for ADP discontinuation are adverse drug reactions and lack of improvement,3 which can be explained by interindividual variability in drug metabolism. Thus, discontinuation of amitriptyline or fluoxetine, two of the most commonly used ADPs worldwide, which are mainly metabolized by CYP2D6, could be related to CYP2D6 genetic polymorphism.
...
Despite the limitations of the present study (naturalistic observation, non-fixed dose, lack of evaluation of drug plasma concentrations and efficacy), a relationship between CYP2D6 polymorphism and early discontinuation of fluoxetine or amitriptyline monotherapy treatment was observed. There were differences across CYP2D6 groups in the rate of ADP discontinuation at week 4 (P < 0.01;Table 1). Overall, the rates of ADP discontinuation were 25, 36 and 46% at weeks 4, 8 and 12, respectively; no patient returned after dropout. All UMs discontinued treatment within the first 4 weeks, whereas no PM did so within 12 weeks.
 CYP2D6 ultrarapid metabolism and early dropout from fluoxetine or amitriptyline monotherapy treatment in major depressive patients

понедельник, 17 декабря 2012 г.

Экспериментальные антидепрессанты AZD6765 и GLYX-13


A small, randomized crossover study conducted by investigators at the National Institute of Mental Health Health (NIMH) showed that after a single infusion of AZD6765, almost 32% of the patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD) had a significant decrease in symptom scores 80 minutes later vs 15% of the patients after they had received matching placebo.
Although after receiving the experimental drug, the total decrease in scores lasted only for 30 minutes, some of the patients did experience residual antidepressant effects up to 2 days later.
 Experimental Drug May Help Depression 'in Minutes'

In clinical trials administered at 12 sites across the country, a single dose of GLYX-13 resulted in significant reductions in depression symptoms among subjects who had shown little improvement with previous drugs. (Subjects had failed treatment with one or more antidepressant agents.)
The positive effects of GLYX-13 were evident within 24 hours and lasted an average of seven days. Side effects of GLYX-13 were mild to moderate and were consistent with those observed in subjects receiving a placebo.
New Fast-Acting Antidepressant, GLYX-13, Shows Promise in Clinical Trials

четверг, 6 декабря 2012 г.

Количество значительно взаимодействующих с фуранокумаринами лекарственных средств растёт

"The number of drugs on the market with the potential to produce serious adverse and in many cases life-threatening effects when combined with grapefruit has markedly increased over the past few years from 17 to 43 in four years," said lead researcher David Bailey, from the Lawson Health Research Institute in London, Ontario.
Citrus fruits such as limes and Seville oranges, often used in marmalade, also contain the active ingredients -- called furanocoumarins -- that cause the dangerous interactions, the researchers said. The chemicals apparently inhibit an enzyme that normally deactivates about half the effects of medication.
More New Drugs a Bad Fit With Grapefruit, Study Finds

суббота, 1 декабря 2012 г.

Допаминовая система больных шизофренией резистентных к лечению

The authors conclude: 'Our findings suggest that there may be a different molecular mechanism leading to schizophrenia in patients who do not respond to anti-psychotic medication. Identifying the precise molecular pathway particularly in these patients is of utmost importance and will help inform the development of much-needed novel treatments.'
Researchers used PET scan imaging to investigate dopamine synthesis capacity in 12 patients with schizophrenia who did not respond to treatment, 12 who did, and 12 healthy controls. They found that schizophrenia patients whose illness was resistant to antipsychotic treatment have relatively normal levels of dopamine synthesis capacity which would explain why the dopamine blocking anti-psychotic medication was not effective in this group.
 Research may explain why some people with schizophrenia do not respond to treatment