Drug - Fetzima™(levomilnacipran) [Forest Laboratories, Inc]
March 2014
Therapeutic area - Antidepressant
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
Preferred | Nonpreferred |
citalopram
|
Celexa
* individual PA criteria apply |
New Generation Antidepressants
Preferred | Nonpreferred |
bupropion IR, SA, XL
|
Aplenzin* (bupropion HBr)
Cymbalta Desyrel Effexor, Effexor XR Luvox CR* Pristiq* Remeron Wellbutrin/SR/XL * individual PA criteria apply |
Quantity Limit = 34 (All strengths); 28 for starter kit
Fetzima (levomilnacipran) is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. Levomilnacipran is titrated to the recommended dose range of 40 to 120 mg once daily with or without food. There are many other drugs indicated in the initial treatment of MDD including: tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), SSRIs, SNRIs, bupropion and mirtazapine.
The most recent guidelines published by Kaiser Permanente Care Management Institute in 2006 for the treatment of depression in primary care recommend SSRIs, TCAs, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors SNRIs, and dopamine agonists as first-line treatment of MDD. The preference of antidepressant is based on patient’s history with drug treatment, clinician choice, adverse effects, among other factors. There are no clinical trials comparing the efficacy or safety of levomilnacipran to other antidepressants. It is not clear if levomilnacipran offers any unique efficacy or safety advantage over existing therapies.
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