At Last, A Safe And Effective Anti-Depressant!
Milnacipran (Ixel) is the first of a new category of antidepressants
known as Norepinephrine Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (or NSRI's). It
strongly inhibits the re-uptake of both serotonin and noradrenaline
levels without causing side effects. Extensive studies have been
undertaken, and to date, clearly illustrate its efficacy in both
moderate and severe depression within hospitals and community settings.
Milnacipran is quite different from Selective Serotonin Re-uptake
Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as ProzacŪ, and Selective Norepinephrine
Re-uptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) like Effexor. Milnacipran influences the
two neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and serotonin, almost equally (in
a 3:1 ratio). In contrast, SNRIs tend to affect serotonin more than
norepinephrine.
Furthermore, many SSRIs have unpleasant side effects, including an
increase in erectile dysfunction and a decrease in libido (sex drive).
There is a wealth of evidence illustrating that drugs that increase
either serotonin or norepinephrine alone, are equally effective in
treating depression. However, norepinephrine is considered more
important in treating pain. Until recently, the most effective way to
increase both norepinephrine and serotonin was through administering
tricyclic anti-depressants (TCAs).
TCAs also have a range of side effects including dry mouth, fatigue,
weight gain, confusion, disorientation, drowsiness and cardiac
abnormalities. Milnacipran however, may influence pain mechanisms in a
similar manner without the negative side effects.
Controlled trials involving 1032 patients, comparing milnacipran with
imipramine have also been the subject of the more comprehensive
meta-analyses. Results clearly demonstrate that milnacipran offers
antidepressant efficacy similar to that of imipramine and significantly
superior to that of the SSRIs. Further, database analysis of over 3300
patients shows that the general and cardiovascular tolerability of
milnacipran are greater than those of the tricyclic antidepressants with
fewer cholinergic side effects.
As a result, this research highlights Milnacipran as an efficacious and
viable therapy for treating depression, as well as conditions like
Fibromyalgia and Lupus that are characterized by chronic pain.
Fibromyalgia and Lupus
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is thought to affect roughly 2-4% of the
general population. The symptoms of FMS can be incapacitating, and
accompanied by severe pain, fatigue and poor sleep. Currently, the U.S
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recommend any specific drugs
for treating Fibromyalgia. However, patients treated with milnacipran
have showed marked improvements in their pain and fatigue levels, and
mood, compared with those given a placebo.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus) is an autoimmune disease where the
body may attack its own proteins as if they were foreign and dangerous
bacteria. Milnacipran trials demonstrate tremendous pain relief in
sufferers, as well as a general feeling of well-being.
GI 09/20/2007
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