Comparative evaluation of amisulpride and escitalopram on Hamilton anxiety rating scale among depression patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Nepal.
Loading...
Date
2015-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Background: Depression is an important global public health problem and is a major
cause of disability and premature death. The present study was conducted to compare
effi cacy and safety of amisulpride and escitalopram on Hamilton anxiety rating scale
(HAM-A) among depression patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Nepal.
Methods: The study was conducted in patients for 1-year in the Department of
Neuropsychiatry, Nepalgunj Medical College and Teaching Hospital. A total of
117 depression patients were divided into two groups. Group I (58 patients) received
amisulpride tablet at a dose of 50 mg/day and Group II (59 patients) were given
escitalopram at a dose of 10 mg/day. The patients were required to follow-up at 4, 8
and 15 weeks. The effi cacy of the drugs was calculated by HAM-A. Adverse drug
reactions (ADRs) were monitored at every follow-up. Appropriate statistical tools
using Graphpad instat 3.0 were used for analysis p<0.05 was considered signifi cant.
Results: HAM-A score in group receiving amisulpride at 0 and 15 weeks was
19.83±0.33 and 8.17±0.32 (p<0.0001). HAM-A score in group receiving escitalopram
at 0 and 15 weeks was 20.76±0.28 and 8.98±0.24 (p<0.0001). Gastrointestinal
disturbances, sexual disturbances, amenorrhea, lactation, agitation, and insomnia
were the commonly encountered ADRs.
Conclusion: Both amisulpride and escitalopram were highly effective in the treatment
of anxiety in depression patients during the study period. Further, more clinical
studies with longer follow-up duration are needed to substantiate the therapeutic
effects of amisulpride.
Description
Keywords
Depression, Amisulpride, Escitalopram, Hamilton anxiety rating scale
Citation
Kaul Vijay, Dutta Shakti B, Beg Mirza A, Bawa Shalu, Anjoom Mohammed, Singh Nand K, Dutta Srihari. Comparative evaluation of amisulpride and escitalopram on Hamilton anxiety rating scale among depression patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Nepal. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology. 2015 Mar-Apr; 4(2): 349-353.