Treatment of depression in elderlies with Vortioxetin: a review based on clinical studies

Resumo

Depression is a health problem that is increasing in the world population, affecting 300 million people, mainly among the elderly, and is treated with traditional psychotropic drugs, which generate adverse effects and delays in resolution, besides relapses. Vortioxetine is a new psychotropic drug prescribed for young adults and the elderly. The aim of this study was to perform a literature review on the efficiency and safety of vortioxetine for the treatment of the elderly with depression, also addressing the occurrence of interactions with hypoglycemic and hypotensive agents, aiming at knowledge diffusion. This study was developed by searching for scientific articles that address clinical trials, published in the last 10 years by means of descriptors in Health Science: “depression, vortioxetine, elderly, vortioxetine-hypoglycemic interaction and vortioxetine-hypotensors interaction, efficacy and safety”, in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Based on this survey, it was demonstrated that the use of vortioxetine is safe because it presented light to moderate adverse effects and no serious effects when used alone, and presented efficacy in the treatment for depression in the elderly people, reported in 42% of the clinic trials evaluated. It was not possible to define interactions between vortioxetine and anti-hypertensives or hypoglicaemic agents due to the scarcity of clinical studies that approached subject, yet, it is recommended to monitor the therapy and, if necessary, adjust the dosage or substitute the drug according to the patient’s clinical case. There is no evidence of use in children, under 18s and pregnant women.