Posted by JPHR on December 30, 2008, at 17:31:23
In reply to Re: Long-Term Users of SSRI's--Need Your Help, posted by crittercuddler on December 30, 2008, at 17:02:42
> Which drug therapies are shown to not cause an apathy syndrome?
I'm definitely not an expert on any of this--just like you, I'm only at the beginning of trying to understand this problem--but some references I've looked listed several possibilities. For example, Barnart, Makela, & Latocha (2004) mentioned the following medications:
"It has been noted that patients who experienced apathy while taking an SSRI have not experienced such a result when treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants, or even clomipramine, despite the fact that clomipramine is a strong serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Garland and Baerg ... noted that they had not observed medication-induced apathy as a result of venlafaxine [Effexor] treatment"
And an online report by Lee and Keltner (2005) stated that, "It is important to note that AAS [Antidepressant Apathy Syndrome] has been observed with all SSRIs but not with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants."
Again, a good psychiatrist should know the relevant literature and be able to suggest possible alternatives to SSRIs.
REFERENCES
Barnhart, W.J., Makela, E.H., & Latocha, J. (2004). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor induced apathy syndrome: A clinical review. Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 10(3), 196-199.
Lee, S. I., & Keltner, N. L. (2005). Antidepressant apathy syndrome. RedOrbit News. Retrieved at: http://www.redorbit.com/news/display/?id=333128
poster:JPHR
thread:857586
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081223/msgs/871463.html