Scopolamine is an effective and rapid antidepressant in both unipolar and bipolar depression , working as quickly as 3 days after initial infusion .
OBJECTIVES The cholinergic-adrenergic hypothesis of mania and depression states that depression is characterized by an increase in central cholinergic activity relative to noradrenergic tone .
Scopolamine is a central ly acting competitive inhibitor of the muscarinic cholinergic receptor site .
This review seeks to find all available data investigating scopolamine as an antidepressant .
Replication of Scopolamine's Antidepressant Efficacy in Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
BACKGROUND We previously reported that intravenous ( IV ) scopolamine administration produced rapid and robust antidepressant effects in a sample consisting of both unipolar and bipolar depressives . The present study aim ed to replicate this finding in an independent sample limited to unipolar depressives . METHODS Out patients with major depressive disorder ( MDD ; n = 23 ; 22 were included in analyses ) participated in a double-blind , placebo-controlled , crossover trial . Subjects were r and omized into either a P/S or S/P sequence ( P = block of three placebo sessions ; S = block of three scopolamine sessions ; [ 4.0 microg/kg IV ] ) . Sessions occurred 3 to 5 days apart , such that time spent in each block lasted 1.5 to 2 weeks and the interval between blocks was 3 to 5 days . The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) served as the primary outcome measure . RESULTS Following the initial block , the group receiving scopolamine first ( S/P ) showed a 32 % reduction in MADRS scores ( p < .001 ) , which exceeded the corresponding change of 6.5 % under placebo ( P/S ; p = .009 ) , confirming the a-priori hypothesis . Improvement was significant at the first evaluation that followed scopolamine administration ( p = .011 ) . In Block 2 , the P/S group showed a 53 % reduction in MADRS scores ( p = .001 ) following scopolamine versus placebo , whereas the reduction seen in S/P subjects who received scopolamine during Block 1 persisted as they received placebo during Block 2 . Scopolamine induced drowsiness , blurred vision , dry mouth , light-headedness , and reduced blood pressure , which were sufficiently well tolerated that no subject dropped out because of side effects . CONCLUSIONS These results replicate previous finding that scopolamine produces a rapid and robust antidepressant response
Scopolamine is an effective and rapid antidepressant in both unipolar and bipolar depression , working as quickly as 3 days after initial infusion .
OBJECTIVES The cholinergic-adrenergic hypothesis of mania and depression states that depression is characterized by an increase in central cholinergic activity relative to noradrenergic tone .
Scopolamine is a central ly acting competitive inhibitor of the muscarinic cholinergic receptor site .
This review seeks to find all available data investigating scopolamine as an antidepressant .