AGOMELATINE

This medication is a melatonergic antidepressant. Agomelatine was discovered and developed by the pharmaceutical company Servier Laboratories Ltd. The company continued to develop the drug and conduct phase III trials in the European Union.

Uses

This medication is used to treat major depressive disorder, primarily for its relatively favorable side effect profile: it avoids the weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and severe withdrawal associated with the most commonly used classes of antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclics), while providing similar therapeutic benefit.

Warnings

Do not use Agomelatin if you are allergic to any ingredient in Agomelatin.

Side Effects

Agomelatine appears to cause fewer sexual side effects and discontinuation effects than paroxetine. It appears better tolerated than the SSRIs. Some of the side effects include:

In depressed patients, treatment with the drug increased slow wave sleep without modification of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep amount or REM latency
It induced an advance of the time of sleep onset and of minimum heart rate.
Agomelatine does not alter daytime vigilance and memory in healthy volunteers.

Precautions

Precautions

It is not recommended for use in children and adolescents below 18 years of age due to a lack of data on safety and efficacy.

Only limited clinical data is available on the use of agomelatine in elderly patients ≥ 65 years old with major depressive episodes. Therefore, caution should be exercised when prescribing it to these patients.

Interactions

Drug interactions may interfere with how your medication works. Tell your doctor about all your medications and any you start or stop using during treatment with Agomelatine.

This drug may interact with SSRI antidepressant fluvoxamine. It reduces its clearance and can therefore lead to an increase in agomelatine exposure.

Agomelatine also interacts with alcohol. It increases the risk of hepatotoxicity.

Overdose & Brands

Agomelatine is expected to be relatively safe in overdose.

Available brands:

Brintellix