Lexapro Oral
Solution Formulation Provides New Option for Depressed Patients
Awaiting GAD
Approval
Dec. 2, 2002 -- An oral solution of the
antidepressant Lexapro should be available during the first
quarter of 2003. The FDA approved the solution allowing the depression drug to
be available to elderly patients and others who have difficulty swallowing
tablets.
Lexapro, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI),
was approved in August 2002 by the FDA for the treatment of
major depressive
disorder and maintenance treatment.
Lexapro manufacturer, Forest Laboratories says
like the tablet formulation, the oral solution of Lexapro is a safe and
effective treatment for major depressive disorder. In clinical trials, many
patients taking Lexapro 10 mg per day demonstrated a significant improvement in
depressive symptoms beginning at the first or second week of treatment.
Additionally, Lexapro dropout rates due to adverse events and the overall
incidence of side effects for the 10 mg daily dose were comparable to placebo
in the studies. Lexapro also has a low risk of drug-drug interactions. The most
common adverse events reported with Lexapro were nausea, insomnia, ejaculation
disorder, somnolence, sweating increased and fatigue.
Forest Files GAD Indication For Lexapro
Last week, the company filed a supplemental new
drug application with the FDA to allow Lexapro to be used for
generalized anxiety
disorder treatment.
The company said it filed a supplemental New
Drug Application with data based on three placebo-controlled studies. The
results of those studies on the using the selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor (SSRI) for GAD haven't been released yet.
Forest Laboratories estimates that anxiety
disorders represent a market worth more than $42 billion a year.
Other Lexapro Stories:
For comprehensive information on depression,
visit the HealthyPlace.com Depression Center. On
HealthyPlace.com Radio, we've done several shows on depression. Listen to them
in our 2002 and
2001 archives.
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