Depression is common among elderly with an estimated prevalence of 5%. Due to ageing the national burden will double in the coming decade. Antidepressants as TCAs and SSRIs are effective in reducing symptoms, especially in people with severe depression. To optimize treatment efficacy and reduce side effects, the Pharmacogenetics Working Group of the Royal Dutch Pharmacists Association developed guidelines for dose-adaptation, for instance for antidepressants such as nortriptyline and venlafaxine based on their main relevant genotype (CYP2D6) accompanied by Therapeutic Drug Monitoring. Such personalized drug dosing based on pharmacogenetic information at the start of therapy can speed up the titration phase of antidepressants to establish an adequate maintenance dose. However, pharmacogenetic screening programs are expensive and evidence on effects and costs of such a program among elderly antidepressant starters from randomized controlled studies is lacking. The investigators will conduct a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to determine the effects and costs of pharmacogenetic screening information to optimize drug dosing in depressed elderly patients who start with nortriptyline or venlafaxine. Objective: The primary objective is to determine the effects of pharmacogenetic screening for CYP2D6 on the time to reach adequate blood levels as an accepted proxy for adequate treatment. Secondary objectives include adverse drug reactions and cost-effectiveness Study design: pragmatic randomized controlled intervention study
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Serum drug levels of nortriptyline or venlafaxine
Timeframe: After 2, 4 and 6 weeks treatment started, after the 6th week sampling continues every 2 weeks untill adequate serum drug level is reached with an expected average of 8 weeks