[Citalopram (Seropram) in tablet and infusion forms in the treatment of major depression]

Citalopram i.v. and oral had a reliable antidepressive and anxiolytic effect in 101 hospitalized patients, as apparent from the achievement of complete remission in cca 60% of the patients with major depression after four weeks follow-up. Treatment with citalopram by the intravenous or oral route was most successful in anxious or inhibitory depressions, while atypical forms with hypochondriac or obsedant features responded better to infusions. The global score of HAMD and FKD scales and typical symptoms of depression such as a pathic decreased mood, anhedonia, feelings of guilt, lack of interest, anxiety and suicidal thoughts were positively reduced. The following were not affected: loss of appetite, loss of weight, anosognosia, paranoidity, and hallucinations. The clinical onset of the therapeutic effect was on average apparent on the 10th-12th day of therapy, significantly sooner when the intravenous route was used. The authors did not find significant differences in the therapeutic results in patients under and above 60 years and in those with a mild or severe depression. As regards subjective preference and preference by relatives, infusions were unequivically preferred as they had, no doubt, also a psychological effect. As to the incidence of undesirable effects, the authors did not detect a difference between the two routes of administration of citalopram, which was well tolerated and 50% of the patients did not report any side-effects and the rare ones recorded were not more frequent than in 20% of patients.