Augmentation of milnacipran by risperidone in treatment for major depression

Milnacipran, one of the serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) to which venlafaxine and duloxetine belong, is a new antidepressant that has recently become available in many countries. Despite the advances in pharmacotherapy, almost one third of patients with depressive illness respond...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology 2004-03, Vol.7 (1), p.55-58
Main Authors: Tani, Kunihiko, Takei, Nori, Kawai, Masayoshi, Suzuki, Katsuaki, Sekine, Yoshimoto, Toyoda, Takao, Minabe, Yoshio, Mori, Norio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - therapeutic use
Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use
Brief Reports
Cyclopropanes - therapeutic use
Depressive Disorder, Major - drug therapy
Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology
Drug Therapy, Combination
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Risperidone - therapeutic use
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Summary:Milnacipran, one of the serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) to which venlafaxine and duloxetine belong, is a new antidepressant that has recently become available in many countries. Despite the advances in pharmacotherapy, almost one third of patients with depressive illness respond inadequately to monotherapy with such an antidepressant. We herein describe five patients with major depression who responded partially, but not fully, to milnacipran alone and remarkably improved with an adjunct of risperidone. In addition, milnacipran plus risperidone was found to be a useful augmentation for treatment-refractory depression in 3 of the 5 patients. The minimum dose of risperidone, 0.5 or 1 mg/d, was efficacious. The time of response after addition of risperidone was within 4 d. Our experience suggests that an augmentation therapy of milnacipran plus risperidone is useful for treating patients with depression who only partially respond to various types of antidepressants and for treatment-refractory depression.
ISSN:1461-1457
1469-5111
DOI:10.1017/S146114570300381X