Steve Balt, MD

Four Newer Antidepressants: Should You Use Them?

April 1, 2016

Steve Balt, MD and Talia Puzantian, PharmD, BCPP

Steve Balt, MD Research fellow, Addiction Pharmacology Research Laboratory, California Pacific Medical Center Dr. Balt discloses that his spouse is employed as a sales representative for Bristol Myers Squibb. Talia Puzantian, PharmD, BCPP Clinical psychopharmacology consultant in private practice, Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Puzantian has disclosed that she has no relevant relationships or financial interests in any commercial company pertaining to this educational activity.

Since 2011, 3 new antidepressants have been approved by the FDA, and another (ketamine) has been generating buzz as a potential off-label medication for depression. In this article, we’ll take a step back and review the data on vilazodone (Viibryd), levomilnacipran (Fetzima), vortioxetine (Brintellix), and ketamine.

Does Brintellix Bring Anything New?

November 1, 2013

Steve Balt, MD

Steve Balt, MD Research fellow, Addiction Pharmacology Research Laboratory, California Pacific Medical Center Dr. Balt discloses that his spouse is employed as a sales representative for Bristol Myers Squibb.

After a dry spell of new antidepressants—the last one to be approved was levomilnacipran (Fetzima), the active enantiomer of milnacipran (Savella) in July 2013—the FDA approved vortioxetine (Brintellix) in September. Vortioxetine is another serotonergic antidepressant. How exactly does it work, and what are its advantages over existing drugs?

Future Developments in Antidepressant Therapy

May 1, 2012

Kelly Gable, PharmD, BCPP and Steve Balt, MD

Kelly Gable, PharmD, BCPP Assistant professor of pharmacy practice, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, School of Pharmacy Dr. Gable has disclosed that she has no relevant relationships or financial interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity. Steve Balt, MD Research fellow, Addiction Pharmacology Research Laboratory, California Pacific Medical Center Dr. Balt discloses that his spouse is employed as a sales representative for Bristol Myers Squibb.

In 2011 in the pages of TCPR, we asked, “What’s new in antidepressant treatment?” The answer was “not much” (TCPR, April 2011). In 2012, unfortunately, the answer isn’t very different.

Deplin: Is it Just Folate by Another Name?

January 1, 2012

Steve Balt, MD

Steve Balt, MD Research fellow, Addiction Pharmacology Research Laboratory, California Pacific Medical Center Dr. Balt discloses that his spouse is employed as a sales representative for Bristol Myers Squibb.

Patients are probably asking you about Deplin, or L-methylfolate, a version of folic acid that is being marketed by Pamlab as an adjunctive treatment for depression.

Nuedexta for Pseudobulbar Affect

January 1, 2012

Steve Balt, MD and Daniel Carlat, MD

Steve Balt, MD Research fellow, Addiction Pharmacology Research Laboratory, California Pacific Medical Center Dr. Balt discloses that his spouse is employed as a sales representative for Bristol Myers Squibb. Daniel Carlat, MD

Editor-in-Chief, Publisher, The Carlat Report.

Dr. Carlat has disclosed that he has no relevant relationships or financial interests in any commercial company pertaining to this educational activity.

Nuedexta is a combination of dextromethorphan (DM) and quinidine sulfate. You might reasonably ask why these two agents would have ever been considered as a treatment for PBA.