Linked Life Data

5558186

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/5558186

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
5770
pubmed:dateCreated
1971-9-16
pubmed:abstractText
The relationship between plasma concentration of nortriptyline and therapeutic effect after two weeks' treatment with the drug was investigated in 29 psychiatric inpatients. Endogenous depression was diagnosed in all patients. Amelioration of depressive symptoms was estimated as reduction in score on a rating scale, based on a psychiatric interview. Amelioration was not correlated to the patient's sex or age. There was a curved relationship between plasma level of nortriptyline and therapeutic effect. Amelioration was most pronounced in the intermediate plasma level range (50-139 ng nortriptyline/ml plasma) and was slight both at lower and at higher plasma levels. This type of relationship may be due to the dual action of tricyclic antidepressants which has been found in animal experiments. On larger dosages a phenothiazine-like blockade of the monoaminergic receptor is added to the blockade of monoamine reuptake thought to be related to the antidepressant action of the drugs.THIS STUDY THUS SUGGESTS TWO POSSIBLE REASONS FOR A THERAPEUTIC FAILURE WITH NORTRIPTYLINE: a too low or a too high plasma level. The large individual variation in the pharmacokinetics of the tricyclic antidepressants makes prediction of plasma level from dosage in a given individual virtually impossible without knowledge of rate of elimination and apparent volume of distribution. Hence monitoring plasma levels may be a way to increase the efficacy of treatment with these drugs.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
0007-1447
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
7
pubmed:volume
3
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
331-4
pubmed:dateRevised
2010-10-26
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1971
pubmed:articleTitle
Relationship between plasma level and therapeutic effect of nortriptyline.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article