IS ONCE WEEKLY ADMINISTRATION OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS FEASIBLE - EXPERIENCE WITH FLUOXETINE

Antidepressant medications are taken daily or more frequently based on both tradition and pharmacokinetics of the drugs. However, weekly adm inistration may be a feasible option for drugs with a long elimination half-life and flat dose-response curve. In addition to providing effe ctive control of symptoms, it is possible that weekly administration c ould also benefit patients by reducing costs and minimising drug inter actions and adverse effects. The selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptam ine; 5-HT) reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine appears to be a candidate for once weekly administration.