Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences

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THE EFFICACY OF QUETIAPINE XR AS AN ADJUNCTIVE THERAPY TO DULOXETINE IN DEPRESSED PATIENTS WITH INADEQUATE RESPONSE TO MONOTHERAPY

THEODOR MOICA 1,2, IOSIF GABOS GRECU 1,2*, DANIELA SABĂU 1,2, SIMONA SZASZ 2, MARIETA GABOS GRECU 1,2, SORINA MOICA 3, ALEXANDRA GROSAN 2, FLORIN BUICU 2

1.Psychiatric Clinic I, Târgu Mureş, Romania
2.University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Târgu Mureş, Romania
3.“Petru Maior” University, Târgu Mureş, Romania
*corresponding author: [email protected]

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The objective of the study was to demonstrate the efficacy of quetiapine XR (extended release) used as an augmentation treatment to duloxetine, in patients with major depressive disorder, with inadequate response to monotherapy. In this 8 weeks prospective study, the efficacy of quetiapine XR used as an augmentation treatment was evaluated using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17), on two groups of patients: group A - patients with incomplete response, that used quetiapine XR 150 mg daily as augmentation therapy in addition to duloxetine and group B - patients with incomplete response who continued the antidepressant monotherapy. We evaluated the levels of depression at baseline (week 0) and at the end of the study (8th week) for 72 patients. According to HAM-D scores, the level of depression for group A at week 0 (baseline) was M = 22.17 ± 3.23 and after 8 weeks of treatment M = 8.58 ± 3.74. In group B at week 0 (baseline) the level of depression was M = 24.61 ± 4.19, and M = 18.22 ± 7.78 after 8 weeks of treatment. The patients’ scores between the studied groups were significantly different after 8 weeks of treatment. Quetiapine XR 150 mg daily may be effective as an augmentation treatment to duloxetine in patients with major depressive disorder, major depressive episode, single or recurrent, without psychotic symptoms, with inadequate response to monotherapy.