Augmenting antidepressants with folate

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Augmenting antidepressants with folate

Fava M. Augmenting antidepressants with folate: a clinical perspective. J Clin Psychiatry 2007;68 Suppl 10:4-7.
PMID: 1790020

http://article.psychiatrist.com/?ContentType=START&ID=10003225

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J Clin Psychiatry. 2007;68 Suppl 10:4-7.

Augmenting antidepressants with folate: a clinical perspective.

Fava M.
Depression Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.

The goal of treatment of depression is full remission, but only a minority of patients will achieve full remission with antidepressant monotherapy. Several forms of augmentation have been found to improve the effect of antidepressants, but in some cases, issues of safety and tolerability may be of concern. Folate in particular has been found to further reduce symptoms in patients with depression when used in conjunction with an antidepressant, and because folate is a water-soluble B vitamin, its safety and tolerability are well established. This strategy would typically be used in patients with low plasma or red blood cell folate levels. Folate augmentation may be used (1) to enhance the efficacy of antidepressants in nonresponders, (2) to enable those who partially respond to antidepressant monotherapy to achieve remission, and (3) to alleviate residual symptoms during antidepressant treatment.

PMID: 17900202