Zinc May Enhance Effects of Anti-Depressant Medications

In double blind placebo controlled study involving 60 patients with major depression (without any psychotic symptoms), treatment with zinc (25 mg/day) was added to standard anti-depressant drug therapy (imipramine, 140 mg/day). Addition of zinc significantly reduced depression scores and improved treatment outcomes in anti-depressant-resistant patients, as compared to supplementation with a placebo. These results support results from a preliminary clinical report suggesting that supplementation with zinc may augment the effects of anti-depressant drug therapy. The authors conclude, "Zinc supplementation augments the efficacy and speed of onset of therapeutic response to imipramine treatment, particularly in patients previously nonresponsive to antidepressant pharmacotherapies. These data suggest the participation of disturbed zinc/glutamatergic transmission in the pathophysiology of drug resistance."