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Nortriptyline Plasma Levels and Subjective Side Effects*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Vincent E. Ziegler ,
John R. Taylor ,
Richard D. Wetzel  and
John T. Biggs
Vincent E. Ziegler
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 4940 Audubon Avenue, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
John R. Taylor
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 4940 Audubon Avenue, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
Richard D. Wetzel
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
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Abstract

Nortriptyline plasma levels and the incidence and severity of the common subjective side effects of the tricyclic antidepressants were determined in 26 patients during six weeks of treatment with nortriptyline. The total corrected (treatment minus pre-treatment) score of the eight side effects most independent of the severity of depression correlated (0 · 60) with the nortriptyline plasma level. Increased perspiration (o · 59) and dry mouth (o · 54) were the individual corrected side effects which most consistently correlated with the plasma level. These subjective side effects may serve as clinically useful guides to dosage adjustments during treatment, though their value is limited by the magnitude of the correlations and the need to correct for their presence prior to treatment.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 132 , Issue 1 , January 1978 , pp. 55 - 60
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1978 

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Footnotes

*

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

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