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Long-term treatment of endogenous depression with nortriptyline with control of plasma levels1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Per Kragh-Sørensen ,
Christian Eggert Hansen ,
Niels-Erik Larsen ,
Jørgen Næstoft  and
Eigill F. Hvidberg
Per Kragh-Sørensen*
Affiliation:
From Department O, The State Mental Hospital, Glostrup The Department of Clinical Chemistry, The Copenhagen County Hospital, Glostrup Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Danish State Medical Research Council, Copenhagen, Denmark
Christian Eggert Hansen
Affiliation:
From Department O, The State Mental Hospital, Glostrup The Department of Clinical Chemistry, The Copenhagen County Hospital, Glostrup Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Danish State Medical Research Council, Copenhagen, Denmark
Niels-Erik Larsen
Affiliation:
From Department O, The State Mental Hospital, Glostrup The Department of Clinical Chemistry, The Copenhagen County Hospital, Glostrup Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Danish State Medical Research Council, Copenhagen, Denmark
Jørgen Næstoft
Affiliation:
From Department O, The State Mental Hospital, Glostrup The Department of Clinical Chemistry, The Copenhagen County Hospital, Glostrup Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Danish State Medical Research Council, Copenhagen, Denmark
Eigill F. Hvidberg
Affiliation:
From Department O, The State Mental Hospital, Glostrup The Department of Clinical Chemistry, The Copenhagen County Hospital, Glostrup Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Danish State Medical Research Council, Copenhagen, Denmark
*
2Address for correspondence: Dr. Per Kragh-Sørensen, Department O, The State Mental Hospital, Glostrup, DK-2600 Glostrup, Denmark.
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Sysnopsis

The study was undertaken in order to clarify the clinical pharmacological basis for a correct design of controlled trials of the prophylactic effect of tricyclic antidepressants. Twenty-two patients, successfully treated with nortriptyline (NT) in hospital for endogenous depression, continued the treatment for up to five months in the outpatient clinic. Plasma levels of NT were checked, and ratings were performed regularly. Depressive relapses, all related to low plasma levels of NT, were seen in three patients. The gas Chromatographic method, described in detail, has proved suitable for clinical routine and the results demonstrate the value of monitoring plasma levels in achieving therapeutic control.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , May 1974 , pp. 174 - 180
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

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Footnotes

1

This study was supported by The Danish Medical Research Council (512–1646).

References

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