Oncology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Oncology, including details on cancer, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy.

Citalopram to treat depression in pediatric oncology.

Dejong M, Fombonne E

South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust and The Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, United Kingdom.

We describe the first four cases of an open-label study investigating the response to citalopram in a depressed pediatric oncology population. Advice from the Committee for Safety of Medicines (CSM) in the United Kingdom warning against the use of serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants other than fluoxetine in this age group led to the discontinuation of the study. Advantages of citalopram over fluoxetine in a medical setting are discussed in terms of its favorable drug-interaction profile and shorter half-life. Citalopram was very well tolerated in these patients and preliminary data are presented that support its efficacy as an antidepressant agent in these patients.

Published 16 July 2007 in J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol, 17(3): 371-7.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Oncology Research Today. All Rights Reserved.