Dose-dependent augmentation effect of bromocriptine in a case with refractory depression

• Published in: Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 457 - 462
• Main Authors: Wada, Tadashi, Kanno, Muneaki, Aoshima, Toshiaki, Otani, Koichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.02.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: augmentation effect; Biological and medical sciences; bromocriptine; Bromocriptine - therapeutic use; Catecholaminergic system; Depressive Disorder - drug therapy; Depressive Disorder - physiopathology; Depressive Disorder - therapy; Dopamine Agonists - therapeutic use; dose-dependency; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Electroconvulsive Therapy; Female; Humans; Lithium - therapeutic use; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neuropharmacology; Neurotransmitters. Neurotransmission. Receptors; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; refractory depression; Triiodothyronine - therapeutic use; refractory depression; augmentation effect; bromocriptine; Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D); dose-dependency; Mood disorder; Human; Agonist; Drug combination; Electroconvulsive therapy; Bromocriptine; Psychotropic; Treatment efficiency; Depression; Non response; Ergot derivatives; Tricyclic compound; Long term; Dose activity relation; Case study; Imipramine; Chemotherapy; D2 Dopamine receptor; Treatment; Dopamine agonist; Antidepressant agent; Drug interaction
• ISSN: 0278-5846; 1878-4216
• DOI: 10.1016/S0278-5846(01)80006-3

1. A 52-year-old female with refractory depression had not responded to various treatments including electroconvulsive therapy and augmentation therapy with lithium or triidothyronine. 2. Addition of bromocriptine 2.5-5 mg/day to imipramine improved her depressive symptoms. However, when the dose was increased to 15 mg/day to treat residual depressive symptoms, her clinical status deteriorated and returned to the original level. The dose reduction to 5mg/day again improved her depressive symptoms. 3. This report confirms the augmentation effect of bromocriptine for refractory depression. It also suggests that there is no dose-dependency in this effect.