Pharmacokinetic evaluation of agomelatine for the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder

Abstract

Introduction: Preliminary data indicate agomelatine as a promising molecule for both acute and long-term treatment of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).

Areas covered: The present review illustrates the pharmacokinetic properties of agomelatine and their implications for the management of GAD patients. A search of the main database sources (Medline, Isi Web of Knowledge and Medscape) was performed in order to obtain a complete and balanced evaluation of agomelatine pharmacokinetics for the treatment of GAD. The word ‘agomelatine' was associated with ‘pharmacokinetics', ‘GAD', ‘anxiety' and ‘tolerability'. No restriction criteria were established in relation to methodology or year of publication. Only English-language articles were included.

Expert opinion: Short half-life and 1-day administration make agomelatine an interesting molecule for GAD treatment. However, potential interactions with a number of compounds necessitate caution when prescribing and using agomelatine in patients with psychiatric (e.g., alcohol abuse) or medical comorbidities. Further data are necessary to define a precise risk/benefit ratio in special populations such as elderly patients suffering from GAD.

Keywords::

• agomelatine
• generalised anxiety disorder
• pharmacokinetics

Declaration of interest

M Buoli is a consultant for Roche. AC Altamura has served as a consultant or on advisory boards for Roche, Merck, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen Cilag and Lundbeck. MC Mauri has no conflict of interest to declare. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organisation or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.