BMJ  2007;335:578 (22 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.39332.459942.3A

Letters

Going ape

Unwitting experimentation?

Choice of antidepressant

The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below.

I was intrigued by the choice of antidepressant for this gorilla.1 Is escitalopram on the zoo's formulary? It is not on our local NHS formulary. Escitalopram is an s-enantiomer of citalopram, which is now off-patent, and a recent Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin2 highlighted how such drugs are developed and marketed after the patent expiry of the originator drug, to extend profits. In humans, as pointed out by DTB, there is little evidence that it is any better than any other serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but it is many times more expensive than generic alternatives. Has the gorilla unwittingly been experimented on in this way as a result of drug company marketing?

Competing interests: MD is on the editorial board for Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.

Martin Duerden, general practitioner

Meddygfa Gyffin, Conwy, North Wales LL32 8LT

martin@theduerdens.co.uk

  1. Pop IC. A depressed gorilla. BMJ 2007;335:445. (1 September.)[Free Full Text]
  2. Anon. New drugs from old? Drug Therapeutics Bull 2006;44(10):73-7.

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Relevant Article

A depressed gorilla
Olimpia Claudia Pop
BMJ 2007 335: 445. [Extract] [Full Text]

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