An old antidepressant given a new way promises to be particularly helpful for patients resistant to other drugs. The agent, selegilene, belongs to the class of drugs known as MAO inhibitors. Available since the 1950s, they have fallen from favor because of the risk of potentially dangerous side effects caused by interaction in the gut with many foods and drugs.
By delivering selegilene by skin patch, researchers were able to avert serious side effects and relieve depression within six weeks in 42% of 177 adults, many of whom responded quickly. The drug may be especially useful for people with atypical depression, marked by overeating, oversleeping and extreme sensitivity to interpersonal rejection. This type of depression, afflicting aproximately 10 million Americans, is notably responsive to MAO inhibitors, which until now, have not been a first-line defense.
