[Clinical experience with agomelatine for the treatment of depression in elderly patients in outpatient practice].

UNLABELLED: Objective. To determine the therapeutic efficacy and safety of agomelatine (valdoxan) in elderly patients with mild and moderate depression during outpatient treatment. Material and methods. The 60-79-year-old age group consisted of 20 patients with mild and moderate depressive episode who received agomelatine. Mild and moderate depressive episode was determined according to depressive disorder criteria of ICD-10. The therapeutic dose for agomelatine treatment was 25 or 50 mg/day once daily (in the evening) during 6 weeks. Results. Depressive symptoms reduced during the first 2 weeks of therapy with agomelatine. Agomelatine was effective in reducing both anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as significantly improved the health-related quality of the patient's life. Agomelatine did not negatively impact on cognitive function and had not pronounced and serious adverse events.

CONCLUSION

Agomelatine can be recommended for use in clinical practice for the treatment of elderly outpatients with mild and moderate depression disorders.