Popular antidepressant now comes in liquid
The Food and Drug Administration in Washington, DC, recently approved an oral solution of Celexa, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), manufactured by Parke-Davis in Morris Plains, NJ, for the treatment of depression.
The oral solution is a welcome option for patients who have difficulty swallowing or who simply prefer liquid medications, notes Steven Rose, MD, professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. It may be especially useful for depressed patients who are elderly, including those in long-term care facilities.
"It is essential that elderly patients, especially those in long-term care facilities who require antidepressant medication, receive treatment that is not just effective, but also safe and well-tolerated," he notes. "An oral liquid formulation of Celexa will offer added convenience and ease of dosing for elderly patients who have difficulty swallowing pills or tablets."
Celexa was introduced in late 1998 and quickly became the fastest growing SSRI, generating more new prescriptions in its first year than any previously launched product on the antidepressant market. More than 16 million patients have been treated with Celexa worldwide. The oral solution will be available commercially later this year. Full prescribing information for Celexa is available at www.celexa.com.
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