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Imipramine and Amitriptyline Plasma Concentrations and Clinical Response in Major Depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

James H. Kocsis ,
Israel Hanin ,
Charles Bowden  and
David Brunswick
James H. Kocsis*
Affiliation:
Cornell Univesity Medical College, Payne Whitney Clinic, The New York Hospital, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA
Israel Hanin
Affiliation:
Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Room 1320, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Charles Bowden
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry University of Texas Health Sciences Center, 7703, Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78284
David Brunswick
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, V. A. Medical Center, University and Woodland Avenues, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
*
Correspondence
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Abstract

Plasma drug concentrations and clinical response were measured in two groups of hospitalised depressed patients, who received amitriptyline or Imipramine double-blind, in a dosage of 250 mg for four weeks. Virtually no significant linear or curvilinear relationships were found between any plasma measure and any measure of clinical response. Modest but significant direct relationships were found between age and concentration of parent drugs but not demethylated metabolites. Blood drug level measurement therefore appears to be of little value in monitoring drug treatment of depressed in-patients.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 148 , Issue 1 , January 1986 , pp. 52 - 57
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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