Perspectives on the impact of vortioxetine on the treatment armamentarium of major depressive disorder

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mental health issue that significantly affects patients’ quality of life and functioning. Despite available treatments, many patients continue to suffer due to incomplete symptom resolution and side effects.

Areas covered

This manuscript examines Vortioxetine’s role in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) treatment, highlighting its potential to reshape therapeutic strategies due to its unique Multimodal action and proven broad-spectrum efficacy in multiple depressive domains. A detailed examination of Vortioxetine’s pharmacological aspects, including indications, dosage, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics, is provided, emphasizing its safety and effectiveness. The discussion extends to Vortioxetine’s role in acute-phase treatment and maintenance of MDD and its profound impact on specialized depression domains.

Expert opinion

Vortioxetine is distinguished for its novel multimodal serotonin modulation mechanism, showcasing significant promise as an innovative treatment for MDD. Its efficacy, which is dose-dependent, along with a commendable tolerability profile, positions it as a potential leading option for initial treatment strategies. The discourse on dosage titration, particularly the strategy of initiating treatment at lower doses followed by gradual escalation, underscores the approach toward minimizing initial adverse effects while optimizing therapeutic outcomes, aligning with the principles of personalized medicine in psychiatric care.

KEYWORDS:

• Vortioxetine
• major depressive disorder (MDD)
• multimodal antidepressant
• cognitive symptoms
• emotional blunting
• anxiety symptoms
• pharmacodynamics
• personalized treatment

Article highlights

• Major Depressive Disorder significantly affects emotional, occupational, and social aspects, challenging the efficacy of current treatments due to residual symptoms.

• Traditional antidepressants, such as SSRIs, often fail to fully address the broad spectrum of MDD symptoms or cause side effects, underscoring the necessity for more comprehensive treatment.

• Vortioxetine, with its multimodal action, represents a novel approach that extends beyond the limitations of existing antidepressants by targeting a broader range of neurotransmitter systems.

• Vortioxetine has not only proven effective in the acute treatment of depressive symptoms but, with its excellent safety and tolerability profile, has also shown effectiveness in the maintenance phase and in special populations such as the elderly.

• Vortioxetine has also played a significant role in targeting residual depressive symptoms such as cognitive impairment and in resolving emotional blunting.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

A Cuomo is or has been a consultant and/or a speaker and/or has received research grants from Angelini, Apsen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Idorsia, Lundbeck, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Mylan, Otsuka, Pfizer, Recordati and Viatris. A Fagiolini is or has been a consultant and/or a speaker and/or has received research grants from Angelini, Apsen, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Idorsia Italfarmaco, Lundbeck, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Medicamenta, Mylan, Otsuka, Pfizer, Recordati, Sunovion and Viatris. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.