Selegiline-citalopram combination in patients with Parkinson's disease and major depression

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the selegiline citalopram combination in the treatment of major depression in patients with Parkinson's disease. METHOD: Eight consecutive depressed outpatients who had received previously selegiline monotherapy or (one patient) selegiline-levodopa combination (the dose of selegiline was 5-10 mg/day in each case) for mild to severe Parkinson's disease were treated with 20 mg citalopram/day. The severity of depression was evaluated on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale before and 8 weeks after citalopram treatment. RESULTS: The majority of the patients (six) responded well to citalopram treatment and no adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: The combination of a low dose of selegiline (5-10 mg daily) and citalopram (20 mg daily) may be an effective and safe method in the treatment of major depression in patients with Parkinson's disease. (Int J Psych Clin Pract 2000; 4:123-125)