| | ArabMedicare.com News
Regional News | October 10, 2003
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Cipralex Launched in the UAE
New Breakthrough in the Treatment of Depression
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Dubai -- Two world renowned
scientists in the field of Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychiatry
have joined their medical expertise to discuss about the latest
findings and treatments available for depression in a press
conference held in Dubai for the launch of “Cipralex” which is
seen as the newest breakthrough for the treatment of depression.
The event was aimed at increasing the awareness level of UAE
residents on the psychological, physical and social impact of
depression. In a exceptional visit to Dubai, Dr. Alan Wade, General
Practitioner at CPS Clinical Research Center in Clydebank, Scotland
and Prof. Stuart Montgomery, emeritus professor of psychiatry at the
Imperial College of Medicine in the University of London, underlined
the importance of dealing with depression and breaking the taboo to
using right treatment for it.
In a recent joint study conducted by WHO, World Bank and the Harvard
University, it was identified that depression is one of the most
common mental disorders affecting 340 million people in the world
today, accounting for a full 10% of productive years lost throughout
the world. Depression is one of the most treatable disorders and 80%
of people with depression can be treated successfully with
medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two.
"Major depression is a huge problem and it is growing. People
of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyle and nationalities may suffer
from the condition. One in four women and one in ten men can expect
to develop depression during their lifetime, but it's not just
adults who suffer. Depression also affects at least one in 50
children under 12 and one in 20 teenagers," explained Prof.
Montgomery.
Cipralex (Escitalopram) which is a product of Lundbeck A/S has been
evaluated clinically in the treatment of major depressive disorders.
In both the specialist and primary care setting, Cipralex (Escitalopram)
clearly demonstrated efficacy at 10 mg/day. Clinical studies shows
that Cipralex (Escitalopram) is effective in mild to moderately
severe patients and has also demonstrated robust antidepressant
efficacy in the treatment of severe depression.
A recent survey in patients and health care professionals called A
Holistic Evaluation of Attitudes to Depression (AHEAD) identified
early onset of action and good tolerability as the two most
important unmet needs in the treatment of depression.
According to Dr. Wade, the result of the survey is very promising.
"It is common for patients to abandon therapy after four weeks
of treatment if they do not feel the treatment is having an effect,
or if the side effects are too many or too severe. In my personal
experience, Cipralex indeed improved my options to achieve good
patient compliance and early treatment response,” Dr. Wade added.
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