Allopurinol in Depression

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders with serious socioeconomic consequences on daily life and health care costs. Despite the advent of newer antidepressants that target monoamine pathways, nearly 50% of patients have no response to first-line antidepressant therapy. Thus, a combination of medications with different strategies at the beginning of treatment could provide further therapeutic benefits to MDD patients.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients aged greater than 18 years old. Patients with a HAM-D score of at least 10 with item 1, depressed mood, scoring 2 or greater, are eligible. Exclusion Criteria: Patients with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder Patients with eating disorders Pregnant women or women not using medically accepted means of birth control Cardiovascular disorders Severe renal impairment