Mixing Some Antidepressants and Migraine Drugs May Cause Lethal Serotonin Syndrome
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a warning that mixing certain sSRI/SNRI-type of antidepressant medications and triptan-based migraine drugs may cause a potentially lethal condition called Serotonin Syndrome.
According to the FDA website, when the body has too much serotonin, symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome will occur. These symptoms may include restlessness, hallucinations, loss of coordination, fast heart beat, rapid changes in blood pressure, increased body temperature, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Usually symptoms happen when the drug dose is increased or when the patient is started on the drug.
The FDA website listed some commonly prescribed drugs within the classes at risk:
SSRIs and a Combination Drug Containing an SSRI
* Celexa (citalopram)
* Fluvoxamine
* Lexapro (escitalopram)
* Paxil (paroxetine)
* Prozac (fluoxetine)
* Symbyax (olanzapine/fluoxetine)
* Zoloft (sertraline)
SNRIs
* Cymbalta (duloxetine)
* Effexor (venlafaxine)
Triptans
* Amerge (naratriptan)
* Axert (almotriptan)
* Frova (frovatriptan)
* Imitrex (sumatriptan)
* Maxalt and Maxalt-MLT (rizatriptan)
* Relpax (eletriptan
* Zomig and Zomig ZMT(zolmitriptan)
FDA Approves Wellbutrin XL for Seasonal Affective Disorder - First Drug Approved for SAD
On Monday, June 12, 2006 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved bupropion XL (brand name Wellbutrin XL) for the prevention of depression in seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This approval was notable not only because this makes Wellbutrin XL the first drug approved for SAD, but also because the approval was for prevention of depression associated with SAD.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is depression that correlates with the time of the year when the amount of daylight changes. Therefore, depression episodes occur during the fall and winter, when daylight hours decrease.
The approval was based on 3 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in adults with a history of major depressive disorder in autumn and winter. Response rate was 84% Wellbutrin treated and 72% Placebo treated.
There is a black box warning for suicide risk with Wellbutrin XL, as with other antidepressants, on its use in vulnerable populations including in children and teens.
FDA Wants to Stop Some Antihistamine Sales because These Drugs Have not been Approved
Wall Street Journal reported that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants some manufacturers to stop making prescription cold and allergy medicines containing carbinoxamine because the drug has not been approved by the government. There are at least 120 medications containing this compound and the only company that has gained FDA approval to sell this drug as a tablet or oral solution for allergic reactions is Mikart Inc.
There has been 21 deaths reported in children due to use of this product since 1983.