Sex Differences Seen In Response To Common Antidepressant

[TZ]

ScienceDaily (Sep. 1, 2008) — Women with depression may be much more likely than men to get relief from a commonly used, inexpensive antidepressant drug, a new national study finds. But many members of both sexes may find that it helps ease their depression symptoms.

The persistence of a gender difference in response to the drug — even after the researchers accounted for many complicating factors — suggests that there's a real biological difference in the way the medication affects women compared with men. The reasons for that difference are still unclear, but further studies are now examining hormonal variations that may play a role.

The study involved citalopram, a commonly used antidepressant that is available both as a generic drug and under the brand name Celexa.

Researchers from the University of Michigan Depression Center and their colleagues from around the country tested the drug's ability to help depression patients achieve remission, or total relief from their symptoms, in a multi-year study called STAR*D.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080829104939.htm

[provis99]

1. I've wondered about the effectiveness of Celexa

I always thought my Wellbutrin worked better for controlling the depressive side of my bipolar affliction than the Celexa did; interesting that Celexa may not be as effective because I'm male.