Скополамин и циталопрам в терапии депрессии

Evidence is accumulating that cholinergic pathways in the brain help to regulate mood, and researchers have shown that intravenous scopolamine (an anticholinergic) is effective for moderate-to-severe depression (JW Psychiatry Mar 29 2010). This 6-week, Iranian, double-blind study tested whether oral scopolamine (0.5 mg twice daily), added to citalopram as an initial treatment produces greater antidepressant effects than citalopram plus placebo. Participants were 40 patients with moderate-to-severe major depression (baseline score on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, 22).
At days 4, 28, and 42, patients receiving scopolamine augmentation had significantly greater reduction in symptoms than patients taking add-on placebo, with an overall large effect size (0.9). Response rates were higher with scopolamine than placebo at week 4 (65% vs. 30%) but not at week 6. Remission rates for scopolamine-treated patients were higher at week 6 (65% vs. 20%). Dry mouth, dizziness, and blurred vision were each noted by at least 40% of scopolamine recipients.
Comment: This study shows that scopolamine given orally (a much preferable route of administration for routine clinical practice) adds significantly to the effect of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor for initial treatment of moderate-to-severe depression, although whether it is worth the side effect burden is unclear. Unfortunately, we also do not know whether scopolamine would benefit patients with treatment-resistant depression, although this study's effects in relatively severe depression suggest that such a trial might be pursued. The study's high rate of placebo response (but not remission) and the absence of formal cognitive testing compromise the generalizability of the findings.

Oral Scopolamine Augmentation for Major Depression