Study Evaluates Depression Treatment for Women with Breast Cancer

By Anna Shaffer, LBBC Staff

This study explores the effectiveness of an FDA-approved medication to treat symptoms of depression in women diagnosed with breast cancer

Sponsored By: Thomas Jefferson University and GlaxoSmithKline

Read more about the depression study.

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, have been feeling sad for two weeks or more, and live in the Philadelphia area, you may be eligible to participate in a small pilot study to treat symptoms of depression.

In this study, researchers hope to obtain baseline data on the effectiveness of the extended-release version of the tablet bupropion (brand name: Wellbutrin XL), an FDA-approved antidepressant medication, to treat major depression in women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Buproprion extended-release is currently FDA approved for the treatment of major depression; however, it is not yet approved specifically for women with breast cancer. It may also be used for quitting smoking. While the regular tablet is usually taken three or four times a day, the extended-release tablet is usually taken once daily in the morning since it is released into the body steadily over a long period of time.

Rajnish Mago, MD, and Shannon Duffany, BA, of Thomas Jefferson University’s Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, are recruiting volunteers to participate in this nine-week study. The study is open-label, which means both you and your healthcare provider know you are taking the medication. All qualified participants will receive 150 milligrams daily of bupropion extended-release. The dose may be increased to 300 milligrams daily, if your healthcare provider recommends it. Each participant will be monitored once a week for symptoms and side effects. At the end of the study, a letter summarizing progress and recommendations for further treatment will be sent to the referring healthcare provider.

Call Shannon Duffany, at 215.503.1662 for more information on this study. Please refer to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00234195.

All qualified participants will receive study-related doctor visits, study-related tests, and study medication at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia at no cost. They will also receive compensation for time and travel.

Study Objectives

1. To assess the efficiency of bupropion extended-release tablets in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in women with breast cancer.

2. To evaluate the effect of this medication on fatigue, sexual functioning, pain, and quality of life.

Who may participate?

You may be eligible to participate in this trial if you:

• Are a woman 18 years of age or older
• Are a woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer and who has a clinical diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder
• Do not have another psychiatric disorder
• Do not have a history of an eating disorder, seizures, or head injury
• Are not allergic to bupropion (brand names: Wellbutrin or Zyban)

For more information on Wellbutrin XL, go to http://www.wellbutrin-xl.com

For more information, contact: 215.503.1662

Rate this article