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Long-Term Administration of Tianeptine in Depressed Patients after Alcohol Withdrawal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2018

R. Malka
Affiliation:
Centre Gilbert Raby, Meulan et Institut de Psychiatrie La Rochefoucault, Paris, France
H. Lôo
Affiliation:
Service Hospitalo-Universitaire de Santé Mentale et de Thérapeutique, Hôpital Sainte Anne, Paris, France
H. Ganry
Affiliation:
Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier, Courbevoie, France
A. Souche
Affiliation:
Hôpital de Malevoz, Monthey, Switzerland
C. Marey
Affiliation:
Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier, Courbevoie, France
A. Kamoun
Affiliation:
Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier, 6 place des Pleiades, 92415 Courbevoie, Cedex, France

Extract

Alcohol interferes with the central metabolism of the catecholamines and especially with indolamines (5-HT). Thus, the use of an antidepressant such as tianeptine, whose main neurochemical effect is to increase the reuptake of 5-HT, seems to be particularly indicated for the continued treatment of depressed patients after alcohol withdrawal. This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy and acceptability during long-term administration of tianeptine in depressed patients (major depressive episode or dysthymic disorder) in a multicentre trial, after withdrawal from alcohol abuse or dependence. The results relate to 130 depressed patients, who abstained from alcohol and received treatment for a year. Only one patient dropped-out because of side-effects, and medication was interrupted in 5% of subjects because of alcoholic relapses. Prescribed in the long term, tianeptine did not produce orthostatic hypotension, changes in bodyweight, or alterations in the ECG. All changes found in haematological and biochemical investigations suggested an improvement in patients' physical state. This, and other studies, indicate that tianeptine appears to have the potential to be a safe antidepressant, which might be particularly useful in those patients who are susceptible to the side-effects of psychotropic drugs.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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