The nature and extent of polypharmacy in patients on antidepressants as a function of treatment setting

M. U. Shad, C. A. Carmichael, S. H. Preskorn, W. D. Horst

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Antidepressant use has grown substantially over the past decade. Virtually every physician-clinician will either use of encounter a patient on an antidepressant. Different classes of antidepressants can interact pharmacodynamically or pharmacokinetically with coprescribed medications to alter clinical outcome. This study was done to assess the extent and nature of polypharmacy in patients on antidepressants in 4 practice settings: a health maintenance organization (HMO), a general outpatient psychiatric clinic (OPC), a Veteran's Administration Medical Center/Clinics (VA) and an outpatient HIV clinic. The results are as follows: Univ HIV Univ Psych HMO Clinic Clinic VA n=1968 n=67 n=221 n=1081 Pts on 1 drug 22% 1% 31% 8% Pts on 2 drugs 18% 12% 26% 13% Pts on 3 drugs 16% 1% 15% 14% Pts on 4 # drugs 44% 80% 28% 65% Mean # drugs 4 7 3 5 The drugs most commonly used in combination with antidepressants will be presented and significant potential interactions highlighted. This study provides actual practice data to complement the more rarefied results of clinical trials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)183
Number of pages1
JournalClinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Volume65
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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