A new drug for depression: What you need to know about Auvelity

Depression is a condition that makes life very dark and burdensome. If you are struggling with this, you may not be getting as much relief as you think with the medications you are currently using. So, by now, new types of drugs have also come out to treat depression. Today we are talking about a drug called `Auvelity` that has brought such new hope. This is a drug that was approved in the United States in 2022 and is used for Major Depressive Disorder.

What is Auvelity? How does it work?

Simply put, `Auvelity` is a combination of two medications. That means there are two types of drugs in the same pill. They are `dextromethorphan` and `bupropion`. Think of it as working like a team. Two people working together do more than one drug alone.

• Bupropion : This is already a drug used to treat depression . It works by increasing the levels of chemicals in our brain called `dopamine` and `norepinephrine`, which affect our mood.
• Dextromethorphan : You may be familiar with this one. Some cough syrups contain this medicine. However, this medicine has also been found to affect chemicals in the brain that are related to mood.

So, when these two medications are combined , they provide greater help in reducing the symptoms of depression than bupropion alone.

How was the success of this medicine tested?

Before giving any medicine to people, they test how safe and effective it is. Two similar clinical studies have been done on `Auvelity`. In this, a special method was used to measure the severity of depression. It is called ``Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).`` It is like a questionnaire. You are asked 10 questions about things like sadness, sleep problems, and feelings of guilt and are given a score. You can give a score from 0 to 60. The higher the score, the more depressed you are. A decrease in the score after taking the medicine means that the disease is getting better. These studies included people aged 18-65 with severe depression. However, people with other mental illnesses (such as `bipolar disorder`, `psychotic disorder`), people with high risk of suicide, and people with epilepsy were not included.

What are the results of the studies?

The results are really encouraging. The drug `Auvelity` was more effective in reducing depressive symptoms than the placebo and `bupropion` alone. This means that the `MADRS` scores were lower in those who took `Auvelity` than in those who took the other drugs.

Can Auvelity interact with other medications? (Drug Interactions)

This is a very important part. Yes, Auvelity can interact with some of the other medications you are taking. So, you should tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, including over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and even Ayurvedic medicines.

The dangerous condition called Serotonin Syndrome

When Auvelity is taken with other antidepressants that increase serotonin levels, it can cause an unwanted increase in the brain chemical serotonin. This is called Serotonin Syndrome. This is a life-threatening emergency. If you experience these symptoms, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. There should be a 14-day gap between taking MAOI antidepressants and taking Auvelity.

Other effects

• With dopamine-boosting medications: `Auvelity` increases dopamine in the brain. So when taken with other dopamine-boosting medications (such as some medications for Parkinson's disease), dopamine levels can increase too much, causing restlessness, tremors,Walking may be difficult.
• With Alcohol: Alcohol consumption should be avoided or severely limited when taking `Auvelity`. Taking the two together increases the risk of seizures .
• Heart medications: The effectiveness of heart medications such as digoxin may be altered by Auvelity. It is essential to inform your doctor about this.
• Other medications that are broken down by the liver: Our liver is like a factory that breaks down medications. Auvelity affects the enzyme system called ``cytochrome P450 (CYP450)`` in this system. This can change the way other medications you take work.

How is this medicine used and what are the side effects?

`Auvelity` is a prescription-only medication. The usual dosage is one tablet per day for the first three days, then one tablet twice a day (8 hours apart).

Possible side effects and things to watch out for

• High blood pressure: Your doctor may tell you to check your blood pressure regularly.
• Dizziness: This medication may cause dizziness. Therefore, be careful when driving, operating machinery, and doing activities that may involve falling.
• Effects on the eyes: Tell your doctor if you experience eye pain, redness, or changes in vision.
• Behavioral changes: Some people may experience mental confusion, seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations), and difficulty recognizing reality.
• Seizures: This risk is increased if taken with alcohol. If you experience seizures while taking the medication, stop taking the medication immediately and tell your doctor.
• Pregnant and nursing mothers: This medicine is not safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you are planning to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding, inform your doctor immediately.

Special awareness about suicidal thoughts

Like some medications for depression, Auvelity may slightly increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some people, especially early in treatment.This is more common among young people. If you or someone in your family is having these thoughts, don't be alone.

• Call 1926 (National Mental Health Helpline) immediately.
• Otherwise, go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU).
• Inform your doctor about this immediately.

This is not something to hide. It is very important to get help quickly. Auvelity, depression, mental health, antidepressant, dextromethorphan, bupropion, serotonin syndrome, antidepressants, side effects