Saredutant Side Effects

What is Saredutant?

Manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis, saretdutant is an antidepressant medication marketed as being effective in treating depression, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders. According to drugresearcher.com, saredutant works differently than the most widely used antidepressants called SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. SSRIs stop the reuptake of neurotransmitters (such as serotonin and norepinephrine) by blocking receptors, allowing more to be present in the brain. These reuptake inhibitors, however, are not effective for everyone and have many side effects including lack of sexual desire. Saredutant, however, focuses on a G protein coupled receptor, called neurokinin 2 (NK2). By affecting this receptor, it allows for less disruption when a stressful or upsetting situation arises. Thus, the manufacturer was also testing the drug on anxiety disorders.

In early 2009, saredutant was in Phase III testing that, for the most part, is indicative of a drug's release within the next few years. Drugresearcher.com states that of four Phase III test groups, only two showed improvement against the placebo and two showed none whatsoever. In May 2009, Sanofi-Aventis announced saredutant would no longer be marketed to treat major depressive disorder or depression as its quarterly report showed that the drug was completely ineffective in treating depression. It did, however, show promise in helping treat anxiety. Regardless, Sanofi-Aventis pulled the drug from testing and discontinued it.

Saredutant, like all other psychotropics, may cause side effects including but not limited to dry mouth, anxiety, increase in depression, insomnia, sleepiness, headache, nausea, dizziness and agitation. Although these side effects are less common in saredutant, they still exist and may become troublesome for many users. As the drug was tested alongside popular SSRIs such as Paxil, its side effects were less prevalent than those from the SSRIs.

Although saredutant has been discontinued, its effectiveness in treating anxiety disorders as well as stress has not been forgotten. Drugs like saredutant have opened the door for a new level of drug development and research in psychotropic medications, according to an article on PubMed.gov.

According to Innovaro Pharmalicensing, the future of antidepressants must experience a change in its current medical mechanisms of treatment. Currently, only one-third of patients in treatment for their depression receive any type of remission for drugs on the market; with anxiety patients experiencing a similar success rate. Clearly, the door for an effective antidepressant that has minimal side effects and high effectiveness is anxiously awaited.