Fast-Dissolving Antidepressant, Remeron SolTab(R), Enhances Compliance in 50% Of Patients

Two-thirds of depressed patients prefer Remeron SolTab(R), a fast dissolving antidepressant tablet to the antidepressant's conventional tablet formulation. This according to findings, from a unique global research study involving almost 4,000 patients to date, that were recently presented at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) annual meeting in Atlanta. And crucially, 50% of patients were more likely to comply with a fast dissolving antidepressant formulation.


In recent years, a variety of improved methods for delivering drugs have been developed with the aim of improving performance, convenience and compliance. Remeron SolTab is the only fast dissolving antidepressant available and has a unique mechanism of action which differs from the SSRI class of antidepressants. Remeron SolTab combines mirtazapine, the active ingredient of Remeron(R) - that acts on both serotonergic and noradrenergic systems - with a fast dissolving drug delivery system allowing intake without water and offering a pleasant orange taste. Results from the global survey involving almost 4,000 patients using Remeron SolTab in 20 countries confirm that such a formulation is both preferred by patients and improves patients' compliance to treatment. Similar results have been found recently in a large Swiss observational study involving over 1000 patients.


"Compliance with antidepressant medication is a pervasive problem faced by prescribers across the world. As many as 60% of the patients do not follow their physician's recommended therapy. Any way of improving compliance should be seized upon as it can have significant benefits on the outcome of treatment with benefits to all parties involved", commented Prof Dr med Armin Szegedi, Executive Director Clinical Projects Psychiatry, Organon International.


The survey - conducted on-line - asked depressed patients what they thought about the fast dissolving Remeron SolTab compared to conventional mirtazapine tablets. Preliminary responses to date show that more than 86% of patients are positive about Remeron SolTab; and 50% say they are more compliant now that they are using Remeron SolTab. More than 63% said they prefer this new formulation. The survey will continue to recruit patients with the ultimate aim of obtaining responses from 4,500 patients by the end of 2005.


"These data warrant the conclusion that Remeron SolTab is a valuable improvement to the ease of use, the convenience of and the compliance with antidepressant treatment, compared to conventional pharmacological treatments of depression," concluded Professor Koen Demyttenaere, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Belgium. "Patients clearly prefer this way of taking their antidepressants therapy. As physicians we sometimes forget that treating patients is more than the prescription of medicines. Acceptance by patients is an important next step. Everything that can improve acceptance of treatment is likely to improve compliance."















Organon, the pharmaceutical company behind Remeron SolTab, recognizes the impact of drug administration on how patients view their treatment and has also introduced innovative drug delivery systems in a number of other fields including contraception and fertility.


_ Delina-Stula A et al. (2004) Antidepressant efficacy and patients acceptance of a new formulation of mirtazapine (Remeron SolTab(R)) in depressed patients in practice. Presented at the 17th ECNP congress Stockholm Sweden.


Organon - with shared head offices in Roseland, New Jersey, U.S.A. and Oss, The Netherlands - creates, manufactures and markets prescription medicines that improve the health and quality of human life. Through a combination of independent growth and business partnerships, Organon strives to remain or become one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in each of its core therapeutic fields: reproductive medicine, psychiatry and anesthesia. Organon products are sold in over 100 countries, of which more than 60 have an Organon subsidiary. Organon is the human health care business unit of Akzo Nobel. Additional information about Organon is available through its corporate website, organon.


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