Desvenlafaxine in Opioid-Dependent Patients

Summary

Background: Although substitution therapy has been shown to be highly effective to retain opioid-dependent patients in treatment and reduce drug use, this population is afflicted by numerous conditions including depression. Unfortunately, studies published thus far have reported inconsistent or no difference in response between placebo therapy and antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Objective: To assess the feasibility of Desvenlafaxine (DESV) administration among opioid-dependent subjects and explore its effect on depressive symptoms. Methods: Open-label pilot trial of 8 weeks of DESV 50-100 mg/day in 20 methadone-maintained individuals with comorbid depressive symptoms at the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal. Significance: This pilot study will lay down the foundation on which a larger multisite clinical trial could be conducted to examine DESV as new treatment for opioid-dependent population with comorbid depression.

Timeline

Start

2014-07

Primary completion

2017-01

Completion

2017-01

Publications

• El Hage C, Ghabrash MF, Dubreucq S, Brissette S, Lesperance F, Lesperance P, Ouellet-Plamondon C, Bruneau J, Jutras-Aswad D. A pilot, open-label, 8-week study evaluating desvenlafaxine for treatment of major depression in methadone-maintained individuals with opioid use disorder. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2018 Sep;33(5):268-273. doi: 10.1097/YIC.0000000000000223.

Drugs

Indications