Pilot investigation of isradipine in the treatment of bipolar depression motivated by genome-wide association.

Bipolar Disord
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Keywords
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Motivated by genetic association data implicating L-type calcium channels in bipolar disorder liability, we sought to estimate the tolerability, safety, and efficacy of isradipine in the adjunctive treatment of bipolar depression.

METHODS: A total of 12 patients with bipolar I or II depression entered this pilot, proof-of-concept eight-week investigation and 10 returned for at least one post-baseline visit. They were initiated on isradipine at 2.5 mg and titrated up to 10 mg daily, with blinded assessments of depression using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) as well as adverse effects.

RESULTS: Among the 10 patients, three had bipolar II disorder; all but two reported current episode duration longer than six months. In all, four of 10 completed the study; no significant adverse events were observed, although one subject discontinued treatment per protocol because of possible hypomanic symptoms which had resolved prior to study visit. In a mixed-effects model, mean improvement in depression severity, assessed by MADRS, was 2.1 (standard error = 0.36) points/week (p 

CONCLUSIONS: Isradipine merits further investigation for the treatment of bipolar depression. This preliminary trial illustrates the potential utility of genetic investigation in identifying psychiatric treatment targets.

Year of Publication
2014
Journal
Bipolar Disord
Volume
16
Issue
2
Pages
199-203
Date Published
2014 Mar
ISSN
1399-5618
DOI
10.1111/bdi.12143
PubMed ID
24372835
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