Vortioxetine in the treatment of major depressive disorder

ABSTRACT

Vortioxetine is a novel psychotropic drug, with evidence of efficacy in acute treatment of major depressive episodes and in prevention of relapse in major depressive disorder. It has been described as having a ‘multimodal’ serotonergic mechanism of action, involving reuptake inhibition and a range of effects on presynaptic and postsynaptic receptors. It also has important effects on other neurotransmitters thought to be important in the neurobiology of depression and response to antidepressant treatment. It is efficacious in reducing anxiety symptom severity in depressed patients. The tolerability profile of vortioxetine appears predictable from its pharmacological properties. It may have beneficial effects in improving ‘cognition’ in depression, and a lower incidence of treatment-emergent sexual dysfunction, but these potential benefits require further investigation.

KEYWORDS:

• duloxetine
• major depression
• multi-modal
• placebo
• treatment
• vortioxetine

Financial & competing interests disclosure

DS Baldwin has received personal honoraria for attending two meetings of an advisory board hosted by H Lundbeck A/S and Takeda, the pharmaceutical companies responsible for the development of vortioxetine. The University of Southampton, his employer, has received grants from H Lundbeck A/S, for trials of vortioxetine in major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. VB Hanumanthaiah has no potential conflicts of interest to declare. 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.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.