Pramipexole in Depression

This article discusses a UK-based, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial on the use of pramipexole as an augmentation therapy for treatment-resistant, unipolar depression. The study aimed to evaluate its efficacy and tolerability when added to existing antidepressant medication in adults who had not responded adequately to initial treatments.

The trial involved randomly assigning participants to either a pramipexole group (titrated to 2.5 mg) or a placebo group, both in addition to their ongoing antidepressant medication, for 48 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in depressive symptoms, measured by the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomology self-report version (QIDS-SR16) total score, from baseline to week 12.

Results showed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms in the pramipexole group compared to the placebo group at 12 weeks, with a mean difference of -3.91. However, the pramipexole group also experienced more frequent adverse events, including nausea, headache, and sleep disturbance, which led to a higher rate of treatment discontinuation.

The study concludes that pramipexole is a clinically effective option for reducing symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression. The researchers recommend further trials to compare pramipexole directly with other existing treatments. The National Institute of Health and Care Research, Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme, funded this research.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40602411/