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Plasma Concentrations of Protriptyline and Clinical Effects in Depressed Women

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

S. F. Whyte ,
A. J. Macdonald ,
G. J. Naylor  and
J. P. Moody
S. F. Whyte
Affiliation:
Dept. of Psychological Medicine, University of Glasgow
A. J. Macdonald
Affiliation:
Royal Dundee Liff Hospital, by Dundee
G. J. Naylor
Affiliation:
Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Dundee
J. P. Moody
Affiliation:
Royal Dundee Liff Hospital, by Dundee
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Summary

We studied the relationship between side effects, clinical outcome and the drug plasma levels in 28 female depressed patients treated with protriptyline. After 3½ weeks treatment, patients with plasma levels within a median range (630 to 900 nmol/1) showed better responses to the drug than patients with plasma levels outside this range.

There were no statistically significant correlations between plasma levels and side effect scores or ‘corrected’ side effect scores (scores after subtracting pre-treatment values) for the group at any time after starting the treatment. But we found positive correlations between plasma levels and ‘corrected’ side effect scores for the neurotic subgroup after 14 and 21 days of treatment. Other correlations between plasma levels and side effect scores were non-significant.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 128 , Issue 4 , April 1976 , pp. 384 - 390
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1976 

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