Long-Term Augmentation of SSRIs with Atypical Antipsychotics: Is There a Need?

Yes, says this manufacturer-sponsored study, the first of its kind, but the data also suggest that many patients may do well without continued augmentation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

When treating patients whose depression remits when an atypical antipsychotic is added to an antidepressant, clinicians want to know if the antipsychotic can be stopped because the antidepressant alone prevents relapse. A manufacturer-sponsored study tries to answer this question.

In the initial phase, 892 patients with major depression who had failed at least two antidepressants were treated with olanzapine-fluoxetine combination (OFC) for 6 to 8 weeks (with forced titration until response or as tolerated: olanzapine, 18 mg; fluoxetine, 50 mg). The 655 patients with 50% reduction in symptoms had 12 weeks of stabilization.

The 444 patients who maintained a 50% reduction in symptoms were then randomized to continued OFC or fluoxetine alone for…

Reviewing Author

Peter Roy-Byrne, MD

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Peter Roy-Byrne, MD

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Long-Term Augmentation of SSRIs with Atypical Antipsychotics: Is There a Need?

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