Pramipexole Dosage for Depression
The appropriate dosage of Pramipexole for treating depression varies based on individual patient needs. However, a common starting dose is 0.125 mg three times a day. This can be gradually increased to a maximum of 4.5 mg per day, if necessary. Always consult with a healthcare provider for personalized dosage instructions.
What Is Pramipexole?
Pramipexole is a non-ergot dopamine agonist drug.
It is a synthetic aminobenzothiazole compound that stimulates directly dopamine receptors. It does so without any metabolic conversion [1].
Pramipexole has a high affinity for the D2-like receptor subfamily, including the D2, D3, and D4 receptor subtypes [2].
The drug is known for its fast absorption with a bioavailability (the rate of absorption of the drug) greater than 90%. Pramipexole is secreted by the renal tubules [1].
Pramipexole increases vesicular dopamine uptake. That has been associated with a redistribution of vesicular monoamine transporter-2 immunoreactivity within nerve terminals [3]. This can affect the release of neurotransmitters. Therefore this effect is prevented by pretreatment with the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist eticlopride [3].
However, the drug is considered safe and effective both as an add-on therapy and alone.
Primarily, it is used to treat Parkinson’s disease, where it helps to delay the introduction of levodopa and postpone its side effects [1]. In addition to that, it has also been used to deal with restless legs syndrome and is less commonly but still used as an add-on treatment for major depressive disorder [4].
Can We Use Pramipexole For Treating Depression?
Yes; some recent studies show promising results for the use of pramipexole in treating depression. More so for patients who appear to be resistant to traditional antidepressant treatments, such as Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac, and others.
For instance, a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies found that using pramipexole as an augmentation to antidepressant treatment showed a treatment response rate of 62.5% in patients with resistant unipolar and bipolar depression [5].
Further, another study showed that in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, pramipexole improved depression-like behavior [6].
In a study investigating 116 patients with treatment-resistant depression, 74.1% of patients responded to pramipexole augmentation after 24 weeks with betterment of their well-being [7]. Another study found that 67% of patients taking pramipexole experienced improvement of at least 50% in their Hamilton depression scale score [8].
It is great that these studies show positive results, however, pramipexole is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of depression. It is used for this purpose only off-label and, the use of such needs to be consulted with the patient [9].
But perhaps in the future, it will be approved by the FDA and might be used for the treatment of depression.
What Is The Appropriate Dose of Pramipexole For Depression?
As pramipexole is not approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression, we can look at the doses used in different studies as guidance.
For instance, in a study of 174 patients with major depression, three different daily doses were tested (0.375 mg, 1.0 mg, and 5.0 mg). What the study found was that the patients who received pramipexole at the 1.0mg per day dose had a significant improvement over baseline compared to the placebo group [10].
A different study suggested the use between 0.125 to 9.0 mg/day for the treatment of treatment-resistant bipolar depression. Although this is quite a big range, the study reported an average daily dose of 1.7 mg [11].
In a naturalistic study, pramipexole was added to antidepressant treatment at increasing doses from 0.375 to 1.0 mg/day [12].
In conclusion, the appropriate dose of pramipexole for depression can range from 0.375 mg to 1.0 mg per day, but it can go up to 5.0 mg or even 9.0 mg per day in some cases. However, the dose should be individualized based on the patient's response and tolerance to the medication. Always consult with a healthcare provider for the most appropriate dosage.