Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

December 2, 2008 7:58:42 PM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Gender Influences Effectiveness of Antidepressants

Posted Sep 9, 08 7:34 PM CDT in Science & Health 

(Newser) – The results of the largest-ever federal study of depression are in, and the link between gender and treatment is clearer than ever before, Newsweek reports. Men and premenopausal women respond differently to different formulations of drugs, suggesting the strong influence of estrogen and reinforcing the gap between two commonly prescribed classes of drugs: tricyclics, which are more effective in men, and SSRIs, to which women respond more readily.

Female participants in the new study were 33% more likely than male counterparts to achieve full remission on the popular drug citalopram, aka Celexa. "These results are very exciting because they give more confirmation that gender is a factor that should be considered when prescribing treatment for depression," says a leader of the $35 million study.

Source Newsweek

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Heart Disease Linked to Depression

    Sep 30, 08 2:08 AM CDT
    Heart Disease Linked to Depression People suffering from heart disease are three times more likely to be depressed, according to a study that found young women particularly at risk. Researchers urged doctors to monitor heart patients for depression, reports the San Francisco Chronicle, noting that it not only affects quality of life but can adversely a patient's prognosis. Some 80 million Americans suffer from heart disease.
    More »

  • Women at Risk After Hormone Therapy: Study

    Mar 5, 08 11:14 AM CST
    Women at Risk After Hormone Therapy: Study Breast cancer remains a risk for women even after they stop taking hormone therapy, researchers said yesterday. A follow-up to a 2002 study showed that women who dropped estrogen and progestin still had a 24% greater breast cancer risk. But their chance of a stroke, heart attack, or blood clot fell to normal levels after halting the therapy, Reuters reports. More »

  • Scientists Solve Estrogen Heart Mystery

    Sep 17, 07 3:30 AM CDT
    Scientists Solve Estrogen Heart Mystery A compound created as the body processes cholesterol was to blame for giving scientists conflicting data about the effect of hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women, researchers say. Initial studies had found that estrogen helps keep the heart healthy, but a later study reported that women taking estrogen actually exhibited higher levels of coronary disease. More »

  • Estrogen Staves Off Dementia

    Aug 30, 07 5:18 AM CDT
    Estrogen Staves Off Dementia Women under 50 who've had their ovaries removed double their risk of disorders like dementia and Parkinson's disease later in life if they don't undergo estrogen-replacement therapy, new research reveals. The findings may lead to more aggressive treatment for premenopausal women who don't produce estrogen naturally, Time reports. More »

  • ESTROGEN THERAPY GETS A REPRIEVE

    Jun 21, 07 6:09 PM CDT
    ESTROGEN THERAPY GETS A REPRIEVE Estrogen replacement therapy was wrongly villified five years ago, when researchers told millions of post-menopausal women to stop taking it because it increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, a reanalysis of the same data shows. It was a false alarm, the Los Angeles Times reports. In fact, the new analysis says, it reduces heart risks. More »

Women are twice as likely as men to develop clinical depression.   (Flickr)
Women in the study responded better to SSRIs, men to tricyclics.   (Flickr)
Researchers say they hopes the findings of a new federal study will encourage patients to try a different drug if one doesn't work.   (Shutterstock)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

People hadn't thought much about gender in terms of treatment options in the early days. No one thought about treating women differently than men. - Dr. Susan Kornstein of Virginia Commonwealth University

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 1)

Tags

depression • women's health • medical study • estrogen


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Science & Health Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »