Parkinson’s Drug Shows Promise for Treatment-Resistant Depression

A UK-led trial by the University of Oxford found that pramipexole, a Parkinson’s drug, significantly reduced symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression. The double-blind study, supported by the NIHR and published in The Lancet Psychiatry, enrolled 150 patients who received pramipexole or placebo alongside existing antidepressants over 48 weeks.

After 12 weeks, the treatment group showed a significant drop in depressive symptoms, with a QIDS score improvement of -6.4 vs. -2.4 in the placebo group. Benefits persisted through the study. However, 20% discontinued due to adverse events such as nausea, dizziness, and sleep issues, compared to 5% in the placebo arm.

Pramipexole, a dopamine agonist, may be effective where serotonin-based treatments fall short. Researchers stress the need for further study on its safety and cost-effectiveness for wider use in depression treatment.

01-07-2025