TY - JOUR
T1 - What type and dose of antidepressants are cancer and non-cancer inpatients being prescribed
T2 - a retrospective case-control study at an Australian tertiary hospital
AU - Sanjida, Saira
AU - Mulvogue, Kelly
AU - Shaw, Joanne
AU - Couper, Jeremy
AU - Kissane, David
AU - Pearson, Sallie Anne
AU - Price, Melanie A.
AU - Janda, Monika
PY - 2018/2/1
Y1 - 2018/2/1
N2 - Purpose
Cancer patients are often prescribed antidepressants, but little data is available about whether the type and dose are similar to prescriptions to patients with other chronic diseases. This study compared the prescription practices of antidepressants to cancer and non-cancer inpatients at a major Australian tertiary hospital and assessed side effects and potential drug interactions.
Methods
Inpatients diagnosed with cancer within the past 12 months and prescribed antidepressants were age and gender matched to inpatients with other chronic disease conditions. Data from 75 cancer and 75 non-cancer inpatients were extracted.
Results
Antidepressants were prescribed to cancer and noncancer patients, respectively, for the treatment of depression (n = 50 vs n = 59), other mental health problems (n = 8 vs n = 11, p < 0.67) or unspecified reasons (n = 17 vs n = 5, p < 0.02). Mirtazapine (n = 11/75) was most commonly prescribed to cancer patients followed by duloxetine (n = 9/75). Desvenlafaxine (n = 15/75) was prescribed most commonly to non-cancer inpatients, followed by mirtazapine (n = 11/75). Four cancer patients and three non-cancer patients had documented adverse side effects from antidepressants. About one third of cancer patients (n = 23/75) and about a quarter of noncancer patients (n = 18/75) were prescribed other medicines with the potential for drug-drug interactions with antidepressants.
Conclusions
Antidepressants were prescribed for a range of indications in all patients, but more commonly for unspecified reasons among the cancer patients. Future prospective studies that monitor antidepressant prescribing to cancer patients should ascertain details of the indication, pathways to prescription and differences in type, dose or schedule depending on prescribing medical practitioner.
AB - Purpose
Cancer patients are often prescribed antidepressants, but little data is available about whether the type and dose are similar to prescriptions to patients with other chronic diseases. This study compared the prescription practices of antidepressants to cancer and non-cancer inpatients at a major Australian tertiary hospital and assessed side effects and potential drug interactions.
Methods
Inpatients diagnosed with cancer within the past 12 months and prescribed antidepressants were age and gender matched to inpatients with other chronic disease conditions. Data from 75 cancer and 75 non-cancer inpatients were extracted.
Results
Antidepressants were prescribed to cancer and noncancer patients, respectively, for the treatment of depression (n = 50 vs n = 59), other mental health problems (n = 8 vs n = 11, p < 0.67) or unspecified reasons (n = 17 vs n = 5, p < 0.02). Mirtazapine (n = 11/75) was most commonly prescribed to cancer patients followed by duloxetine (n = 9/75). Desvenlafaxine (n = 15/75) was prescribed most commonly to non-cancer inpatients, followed by mirtazapine (n = 11/75). Four cancer patients and three non-cancer patients had documented adverse side effects from antidepressants. About one third of cancer patients (n = 23/75) and about a quarter of noncancer patients (n = 18/75) were prescribed other medicines with the potential for drug-drug interactions with antidepressants.
Conclusions
Antidepressants were prescribed for a range of indications in all patients, but more commonly for unspecified reasons among the cancer patients. Future prospective studies that monitor antidepressant prescribing to cancer patients should ascertain details of the indication, pathways to prescription and differences in type, dose or schedule depending on prescribing medical practitioner.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85029590921&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00520-017-3876-4
DO - 10.1007/s00520-017-3876-4
M3 - Article
SN - 0941-4355
VL - 26
SP - 625
EP - 634
JO - Supportive Care in Cancer
JF - Supportive Care in Cancer
IS - 2
ER -