Journal
EXPERT OPINION ON PHARMACOTHERAPY
Volume 15, Issue 17, Pages 2525-2542Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1517/14656566.2014.960842
Keywords
antidepressant; levomilnacipran; major depressive disorder; vilazodone; vortioxetine
Categories
Funding
- Lundbeck
- Novartis
- Takeda
- Otsuka
- Accera
- Noven
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Introduction: As a leading cause of disability, major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by reduced quality of life and altered functioning. Current pharmaceutical treatment options are limited in their success by modest effects and adverse events that often lead to discontinuation. One current trend in antidepressant development is to combine inhibition of the serotonin transporter with other pharmacological targets, including the norepinephrine transporter or different serotonin receptors. Areas covered: In a span of <3 years, the FDA approved three new antidepressants for the treatment of MDD: vilazodone in January 2011, levomilnacipran in July 2013 and vortioxetine in September 2013. This article reviews the efficacy, safety and tolerability of these three drugs mainly from the Phase III trial data. Expert opinion: All three drugs are effective in the treatment of MDD, but data comparing them to other antidepressants is currently lacking. Vilazodone was proposed to produce a more rapid onset and have fewer sexual side effects but neither effect has been conclusively shown. Levomilnacipran appears to be effective in improving functional impairment, including both social and work functioning. Vortioxetine is currently the only drug of the three with proven efficacy in elderly patients. It also appears to have cognitive enhancing properties which are largely independent of improved depressive symptoms. Overall, these drugs represent a promising step forward in antidepressant drug development.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available