Int Clin Psychopharmacol 1997 Jul;12 Suppl 3:S29-33
Early onset of action of amineptine.
Freeman H
Green College, Oxford, UK.
A priority in the treatment of depression is to obtain rapid
improvement at
an early stage. Since depressed patients, who are often convinced that
nothing can be done for them, may well have difficulty in adhering to
the
therapeutic management plan, they can be both uncooperative and
neglectful
of treatment measures. The rapid correction of this often resigned
apathy
is an ESSENTIAL aspect of treatment. According to a variety of
clinical
criteria, amineptine often achieves RAPID improvement, particularly on
measures of psychomotor retardation. Initially, antidepressant
medication
is an essential measure in the relief of depressive symptoms, although
subsequently, it may also become a complement to psychotherapeutic
support.
Amineptine has been shown to act directly on the dopaminergic pathway,
unlike other antidepressants, which act on this system only via their
effects on the serotonergic or noradrenergic systems.
