BACKGROUND: Antidepressant therapy is not always effective and is slow to take effect. In theory, these shortfalls may be caused by induction of neuronal negative feedback via pre-synaptic 5-HTIA receptors. Pindolol, an antagonist at somatodentritic pre-synaptic 5-HTIA receptors has been investigated as a potential accelerator and augmentor of antidepressant response. METHOD: A Medline search was conducted in November 1997. RESULTS: Six open-label studies and six controlled studies were identified for review. CONCLUSIONS: Open-label studies strongly suggest that pindolol may accelerate and augment antidepressant response, but controlled studies do not wholly support these findings: only three of six studies clearly demonstrate benefit. Larger, well-designed, controlled trials are needed to determine definitively the effectiveness of pindolol in this context.
BACKGROUND: Antidepressant therapy is not always effective and is slow to take effect. In theory, these shortfalls may be caused by induction of neuronal negative feedback via pre-synaptic 5-HTIA receptors. Pindolol, an antagonist at somatodentritic pre-synaptic 5-HTIA receptors has been investigated as a potential accelerator and augmentor of antidepressant response. METHOD: A Medline search was conducted in November 1997. RESULTS: Six open-label studies and six controlled studies were identified for review. CONCLUSIONS: Open-label studies strongly suggest that pindolol may accelerate and augment antidepressant response, but controlled studies do not wholly support these findings: only three of six studies clearly demonstrate benefit. Larger, well-designed, controlled trials are needed to determine definitively the effectiveness of pindolol in this context.
Authors: J Watson; C Roberts; C Scott; I Kendall; L Collin; N C Day; M H Harries; E Soffin; C H Davies; A D Randall; T Heightman; L Gaster; P Wyman; C Parker; G W Price; D N Middlemiss Journal: Br J Pharmacol Date: 2001-07 Impact factor: 8.739
Authors: Benjamin Adam Samuels; Indira Mendez-David; Charlène Faye; Sylvain André David; Kerri A Pierz; Alain M Gardier; René Hen; Denis J David Journal: Neuroscientist Date: 2014-12-08 Impact factor: 7.519
Authors: Galit Shalom; Eitan Gur; Louis D Van de Kar; Michael E Newman Journal: Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol Date: 2004-08-12 Impact factor: 3.000