Current Prospective in the Management of Depression Using Off-Label Drugs and Advanced Drugs
June 2023
in “
International journal of biology, pharmacy and allied sciences
”
Studysummary This article discusses challenges primary care physicians face in diagnosing and treating depression, noting that up to one-third of antidepressant prescriptions involve non-indicated use; it also introduces FDA-approved treatments, esketamine nasal spray, and brexanolone IV injection. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The paper reviews the management of depression using off-label and advanced drugs, emphasizing the importance of assessing depression severity based on functional impairment. It highlights the need to differentiate between major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder to avoid misdiagnosis. The role of primary care physicians in suicide prevention and the potential of electroencephalography (EEG) in identifying depression are discussed. The paper notes the recent FDA approval of esketamine nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression and brexanolone IV injection for postpartum depression. The conclusion underscores the increasing use of antidepressants and the importance of treating depression as a chronic condition, with new medications offering promising advancements in therapy.
