If no treatment is helpful to fight depression, a brain implant may help. But it can take long duration to show the benefits of the implant. According to the researchers of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the vagus nerve stimulators (VNS) showed some positive signs within three months. The researchers also analyzed both, the brain changes and mood improvements in the patients at the same time. The FDA has approved the vagus nerve stimulator for use in patients with severe treatment resistant depression last year. The implant discharges tiny electrical pulses and motivate the brain. However, experts are not completely aware that how it helps to reduce depression. Earlier, the electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) had also been experimented but produced short-lived benefits.
FDA
TagWellbutrin XL, first drug for seasonal affective depression gets approval
Wellbutrin XL, a new drug to treat seasonal affective depression (SAD), has got approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Seasonal affective depression usually strikes in winters. It lasts for six months and shows the symptoms like loss of interest, weight variations, sleep mess, tiredness and suicidal behavior. FDA has given some guidelines along with the approval of the drug that patients will have to judge the possible threats and advantages when getting the treatment with Wellbutrin XL for seasonal affective depression.
VNS Therapy okayed to treat depression
Bipolar disorder or manic depression patients, most of the times, find medications that simply do not work. They are treatment-resistant. The vagus nerve stimulator has proved as a better treatment device for maniac depression. A patient, Lauri Ticas, who finally opted for the device, said, depression used to control me, now I control the depression. The vagus nerve stimulator has been available for eight years for the treatment of epilepsy. The Food and Drug Administration recommended its use for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression and bipolar disorder. VNS may be an option for patients who are unable to take any of the psychiatric medications due to bad side effects. Cyberonics, the manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator, says that the cost of device $15,000 and with implantation, cost goes to $25,000.
VNS hasn’t reached to more depression patients
A new pocket-watch-sized device that is also called as ‘a pacemaker for the brain’ is developed to provide better treatment to the patients of depression. FDA has been approved it eight months before and since then more than 550 Americans have implanted a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) in their chests to stimulate parts of brain Cyberonics, the manufacturer of the device are waiting for the approval of the insurance companies for the operation of seven thousand another people who are in the list. VNS is the first device to get approval provided another options to patients whose severe depression is not treated by psychotherapy or even shock treatments. The device is a battery-operated generator attached to an electrode implanted in the vagus nerve in the neck. The generator releases constant electric pulses. The pulses stimulate serotonin and some other brain chemicals that are supposed to normalize mood.
Tranylcypromine gets FDA approval as depression drug
Tranylcypromine, a drug for treating depression finally has got approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA). This is the sulfate tablet of 10mg. The drug is the nonspecific version of GlaxoSmithKline’s parnate. Par Pharmaceutical Companies Inc owns Kali Laboratories Inc. who made the drug.
Antidepressants to carry new warning
Antidepressant labels should warn young adults aged 18 to 24 that the drugs may increase their risk of suicide, the Food and Drug Administration said. The current warning states adolescents and children may suffer suicidal thoughts while taking the drug, the Food and Drug Administration wants that expanded to those 25 and younger in light of new findings, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The FDA has asked the makers of antidepressant drugs to add precautionary warnings to the prescription information for the drugs that are given to young people between 18 and 24 years of age during the first 1 to 2 months of use. In 2005 the FDA asked drug manufacturers to add a similar warning regarding children and adolescents prescribed antidepressants. Furthermore, the FDA stated that people currently taking antidepressants should not stop taking them, but consult their doctors if they have any concerns. Dr. Steven Galson, the FDA’s drugs chief said: Antidepressant medications benefit many patients, but it is important that doctors and patients are aware of the risks. The FDA’s proposal comes after their request in December to amplify warnings on antidepressants based on a series of clinical studies. The newspaper reported that — those studies, which focused on nearly 100,000 patients, found that increased suicidal thoughts occurred at early ages among antidepressant users while they decreased among older users. Manufacturers of antidepressants will now have 30 days to submit their revised product labels and revised Medication Guides to FDA for review. Image1 Image2 Source