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news.GlaxoSmithKline's antidepressant Wellbutrin XL has been approved by the FDA to prevent episodes of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, which affects about 6% of American adults.
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Wellbutrin XL is the first and only medication approved to prevent seasonal major depressive episodes. Although antidepressant medications have been used to treat acute seasonal major depressive episodes in patients with SAD, the studies with Wellbutrin XL were among the first pharmacologic studies to explore the possibility of preventing the onset of autumn-winter depression by starting treatment with an antidepressant early in the season, prior to experiencing symptoms.
A combined analysis of three clinical trials showed that Wellbutrin XL reduces the chance of developing a seasonal major depressive episode by 44%.
“The FDA approval of Wellbutrin XL for the prevention of seasonal major depressive episodes in adults diagnosed with SAD is exciting,” said Dr Norman Rosenthal, clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown Medical School in Washington, DC. “For the first time, it may be possible to prevent the predictable onset of SAD with medication by beginning treatment in the autumn season, prior to experiencing depressive symptoms.”