Search the NeLM

Medicines A-Z
Find key information about medicines by name (prototype)
How should depression be treated in a patient with Parkinson’s disease?

Publisher: West Midlands Medicines Information Service

Keywords: Parkinsons Disease; Antidepressants; Depression; Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Antidepressants-tricyclic; Pramipexole; Drug Interactions; Selegiline; Paroxetine; Sertraline; Citalopram;

Date published: 02/12/2011 16:03

Review date: 30/11/2013 00:00

Summary
by: Sarah Fenner
  • Depression is the most common psychiatric complication in Parkinson’s disease
  • There is limited evidence from randomized controlled trials on the efficacy or safety of antidepressant therapy in Parkinson’s disease patients.
  • When choosing treatment consider the possibility of increasing or inducing parkinsonian symptoms, the adverse effect profile and the potential for interactions with concurrent medication.
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are considered to be first choice antidepressants in Parkinson’s disease patients.
  • Tricyclic antidepressants are effective in treating depression in Parkinson’s disease but their adverse effect profile may limit their use.
  • Selegiline is contra-indicated in patients on antidepressants.
  • Dopamine agonists may have a role in the treatment of depression in Parkinson’s disease patients.
QA71-3_final.doc

Preview your comment

Add new comment

Comment text:

Comments

There are no comments yet. You could be the first! You must be Logged In to comment.
Back