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Amitriptyline Dosage Schedule, Sampling Time and Tricyclic Plasma Levels

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Vincent E. Ziegler ,
David A. Meyer ,
Samuel H. Rosen ,
John W. Knesevich  and
John T. Biggs
Vincent E. Ziegler
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 4940 Audubon Avenue, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
David A. Meyer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 4940 Audubon Avenue, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
Samuel H. Rosen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 4940 Audubon Avenue, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
John W. Knesevich
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 4940 Audubon Avenue, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
John T. Biggs*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 4940 Audubon Avenue, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
*
Address all correspondence and reprint requests to John T. Biggs, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 4940 Audubon Avenue, St Louis, Missouri 63110.
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Summary

Plasma levels of amitriptyline and nortriptyline were similar in ten depressed patients after administration of amitriptyline hydrochloride in three divided doses or as a single daily dose. Maximum comparability of the plasma levels is achieved by sampling 12 to 16 hours after the single daily dose, or 3 to 7 hours after the morning dose on a thrice-daily schedule. Owing to the long biological half-life of these drugs, therapeutic plasma levels are maintained on a once a day dosage schedule, and the need for sustained release preparations appears questionable.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 131 , Issue 2 , August 1977 , pp. 168 - 171
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists 1977 

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Footnotes

∗

Supported in part by Public Health Service Grants MH-25571, RR-00954 and DA-00259.

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