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An isobolographic analysis of the adrenergic modulation of diclofenac antinociception.

UNLABELLED: We evaluated the noradrenergic modulation of the antinociceptive activity of diclofenac in mice using the acetic acid writhing test. Dose-response curves were obtained for the antinociceptive effect of diclofenac, phenylephrine, clonidine, desipramine, prazosin, and yohimbine administered both systemically and intrathecally, and ED(50)s were calculated. Noradrenergic modulation was evaluated by performing an isobolographic analysis of the systemic or intrathecal coadministration of fixed-ratio combinations of diclofenac with each adrenergic drug. The systemic, but not the intrathecal, combinations of diclofenac with phenylephrine or clonidine showed supraadditivity, suggesting that the activation of alpha(1) and alpha(2) adrenoceptors interfered with the nociceptive transmission at spinal and supraspinal levels. Supraadditive effects were not demonstrated for the intrathecal injection of diclofenac combined with phenylephrine, clonidine and a selective norepinephrine uptake inhibitor (desipramine) or adrenergic antagonists. We conclude that interaction between adrenoceptors and diclofenac can modulate antinociception by activating common or different mechanisms. Diclofenac has an antinociceptive activity that, in addition to cyclooxygenase inhibition, can be modulated by additive and supraadditive interactions with adrenergic drugs. IMPLICATIONS: Diclofenac analgesia in mice can be modulated by interaction with adrenergic drugs. The systemic but not the intrathecal administration of phenylephrine and clonidine produced supraadditive interactions. For desipramine, prazosin, and yohimbine, supraadditive interactions were not statistically demonstrated. The coadministration of drugs inducing supraadditive effects could be clinically relevant for the treatment of chronic pain because of reduction of doses and side effects.

Adrenergic Agents↗

Prejunctional actions of tacrine on autonomic neuroeffector transmission in rabbit isolated pulmonary artery and rat isolated atria.

1. This study investigated the effects of tacrine (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-aminoacridine) on the resting and stimulation-induced (SI) release of radioactive substances from isolated preparations of rat atria and rabbit pulmonary artery in which the noradrenergic transmitter stores had been labelled with [3H]-noradrenaline, and from rat atrial preparations in which cholinergic transmitter stores had been labelled with [3H]-acetylcholine. In addition, the effect of tacrine on the uptake of [3H]-noradrenaline by noradrenergic nerves in rat atria was determined. 2. Tacrine produced concentration-dependent increases in the resting efflux of radioactivity from both the [3H]-noradrenaline-loaded artery and atrial preparations. Blockade of neuronal amine transport with desipramine reduced the release of radioactivity evoked by tacrine from atria but not that evoked from artery preparations. Inhibition of monoamine oxidase by pargyline pretreatment markedly reduced the tacrine-evoked release of radioactivity in both atrial and artery preparations. 3. The radioactivity released from [3H]-noradrenaline-labelled rat atrial preparations by 30 mumol/L tacrine consisted entirely of the deaminated metabolite [3H]-DOPEG. The evoked release of [3H]-DOPEG from atria was reduced by approximately 50% by desipramine (1 mumol/L). When atrial monoamine oxidase had been inhibited by pargyline treatment in vivo and in vitro, 30 mumol/L tacrine evoked the release of [3H]-noradrenaline instead of [3H]-DOPEG. However, the amounts of [3H]-noradrenaline released by tacrine when monoamine oxidase was inhibited were only about 25% of the amounts of [3H]-DOPEG released in untreated atria. 4. Tacrine, in concentrations of 1 and 10 mumol/L, enhanced the release of radioactivity evoked by field stimulation of [3H]-noradrenaline-loaded rabbit pulmonary artery preparations. This effect was unaltered by desipramine or pretreatment with pargyline. However, in artery preparations pretreated with pargyline, a high concentration of tacrine (100 mumol/L) markedly reduced SI efflux. In contrast to the findings with artery preparations, tacrine (1-30 mumol/L) did not alter SI efflux in rat atrial preparations. 5. It is concluded that tacrine displaces noradrenaline from intraneuronal transmitter stores of sympathetically-innervated tissues, and that the displaced amine is totally metabolized by monoamine oxidase before leaving the nerve terminals. When deamination of neuronal cytoplasmic noradrenaline is prevented, only a portion of the noradrenaline displaced from storage vesicles passes to the extracellular space. It is likely that the transfer of cytoplasmic noradrenaline out of the terminals is limited by the activity of the amine transport mechanism.

Acetylcholine↗

"Specific" binding of [3H]imipramine to protease-sensitive and protease-resistant sites.

A number of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) uptake inhibitors have been shown to displace the binding of [3H]imipramine to rat cortical membranes in a complex manner with Hill slopes less than unity. Norzimeldine displaced the binding of [3H]imipramine in a biphasic manner with IC50 values for the two components of about 30 nM and 30 microM. This latter site alone was found in tissues that had been treated with a protease. Binding to both of these sites was displaced by 10 microM desipramine. The protease-sensitive [3H]imipramine binding sites were found to be saturable, high-affinity binding sites with a KD of 8 nM. The number of these sites varied between brain regions and was positively correlated with the regional distribution of [14C]5-HT but not [3H]noradrenaline uptake. This was not the case however for the protease-resistant but desipramine-displaceable binding sites. Since most previous [3H]imipramine binding studies have been performed with high concentrations of desipramine (10 microM) to define "specific binding," these data would suggest that either protease-sensitivity or displacability by 1 microM norzimeldine would give more reliable estimates of the specific binding.

Animals↗

Tricyclic antidepressants, quinacrine and a novel, synthetic chimera thereof clear prions by destabilizing detergent-resistant membrane compartments.

Prion diseases are invariably fatal, neurodegenerative diseases transmitted by an infectious agent, PrPSc, a pathogenic, conformational isoform of the normal prion protein (PrPC). Heterocyclic compounds such as acridine derivatives like quinacrine abolish prion infectivity in a cell culture model of prion disease. Here, we report that these compounds execute their antiprion activity by redistributing cholesterol from the plasma membrane to intracellular compartments, thereby destabilizing membrane domains. Our findings are supported by the fact that structurally unrelated compounds with known cholesterol-redistributing effects - U18666A, amiodarone, and progesterone - also possessed high antiprion potency. We show that tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. desipramine), another class of heterocyclic compounds, displayed structure-dependent antiprion effects and enhanced the antiprion effects of quinacrine, allowing lower doses of both drugs to be used in combination. Treatment of ScN2a cells with quinacrine or desipramine induced different ultrastructural and morphological changes in endosomal compartments. We synthesized a novel drug from quinacrine and desipramine, termed quinpramine, that led to a fivefold increase in antiprion activity compared to quinacrine with an EC50 of 85 nm. Furthermore, simvastatin, an inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis, acted synergistically with both heterocyclic compounds to clear PrPSc. Our data suggest that a cocktail of drugs targeting the lipid metabolism that controls PrP conversion may be the most efficient in treating Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Amiodarone↗

On the mechanism of action of clozapine on the adrenergic neurone.

1 The antipsychotic drug, clozapine, lowered noradrenaline and metaraminol (MA) concentrations in the rat heart. This action was blocked by the presence of a ganglionic blocking drug. 2 Other alpha-adrenoceptor blocking drugs (phenoxybenzamine, phentolamine) did not significantly lower heart amine concentrations. An inhibitor of neuronal amine uptake (desipramine) caused only a slight lowering. The combination of phentolamine and desipramine showed considerable activity, and this action was blocked by ganglionic blockade. 3 Clozapine had little or no action in blocking amine uptake, yet greatly potentiated amine release caused by the phentolamine-desipramine combination. 4 Other antipsychotic drugs (haloperidol, chlorpromazine, thioridazine) or other agents (propranolol, atropine) did not share this action of clozapine. 5 Ganglionic blockade markedly delayed amine release induced by reserpine administration. 6 It is suggested that clozapine may have an incomplete reserpine-like effect specifically on the adrenergic neurone, facilitating impulse-induced amine release.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Modulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors and functional consequences in the bisected rat vas deferens following chronic inhibition of neuronal noradrenaline uptake.

1. The adaptational changes induced after chronic inhibition of neuronal noradrenaline uptake on both functional responsiveness of alpha 1-adrenoceptor activation and [3H]-prazosin binding were investigated in prostatic and epididymal portions of the rat vas deferens. 2. Contractile concentration-response curves to phenylephrine and saturation isotherms of [3H]-prazosin binding to homogenates of each of the portions of the bisected rat vas deferens were determined 48 h after the last injection of desipramine, nomifensine or nisoxetine (10 mg kg-1; i.p. for 14 days). 3. Treatment with both nomifensine and nisoxetine decreased the potency (pD2) of phenylephrine by about 10 and 8 fold respectively in the epididymal portion. However, administration of desipramine only reduced the potency of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist by about 1.8 fold. None of the treatments modified the maximal effect (Emax) elicited by phenylephrine in this portion of the vas deferens. In the prostatic portion only the treatment with nomifensine (1.4 fold) and nisoxetine (1.8 fold) decreased the potency of phenylephrine; the maximal contraction elicited by the agonist after the treatments was also reduced. 4. Chronic treatment with either nomifensine or nisoxetine did not change the KD for [3H]-prazosin binding in either epididymal or prostatic membranes. However, these two treatments resulted in a significant decrease in the [3H]-prazosin Bmax in membranes in both portions of rat vas deferens. The reduction in density of alpha 1-adrenoceptors was higher in the epididymal than the prostatic half. Desipramine reduced the Bmax only in the epididymal portion. 5. These results indicate that differential regulation of ax-adrenoceptors in either portion of the rat vas deferens could result from a greater degree of activation of these receptors in the epididymal half after chronic inhibition of neuronal noradrenaline uptake. The different functional consequences of the loss of alpha l-adrenoceptors in each portion seems to be explained on the basis of a different relationship between the occupancy of the receptor and the response elicited.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

The kinetics of imipramine-N-oxide in rats.

Rats were given imipramine-N-oxide as single intramuscular injection and then as repeated oral doses. Imipramine-N-oxide and the metabolites imipramine and desipramine were analysed in the blood cells, plasma and brain tissue. The concentration of imipramine-N-oxide increased simultaneously in the brain and blood, reaching a peak 45 minutes after a single dose. Imipramine was the quantitatively predominant metabolite in the blood cells and brain, while desipramine reached a higher concentration than imipramine in the plasma. Samples taken at different times after oral doses during continuous treatment showed fairly constant concentrations of imipramine-N-oxide and desipramine in the brain, whereas the concentration of imipramine was more fluctuating.

Administration, Oral↗

Immobility test: effects of 5-hydroxytryptaminergic drugs and role of catecholamines in the activity of some antidepressants.

Fenfluramine and m-chlorophenylpiperazine, two drugs purported to enhance central 5-hydroxytryptaminergic transmission, and metergoline, a 5-HT antagonist, did not modify the duration of immobility induced in rats made to swim in a restricted space. Nomifensine, desipramine and amineptine, three antidepressants known to block neuronal catecholamine uptake, significantly reduced the duration of immobility. Penfluridol, a dopamine antagonist at central receptors, counteracted the effect of nomifensine and amineptine but not that of desipramine. Propranolol and phenoxybenzamine respectively reduced the effects of desipramine and nomifensine but did not modify amineptine's effect. Metergoline pretreatment did not counteract the effect of any drug. The results indicate that various antidepressants can reduce the duration of immobility in rats by activating dopaminergic and/or noradrenergic mechanisms in the brain. Either alpha- or beta-noradrenergic receptors could contribute to the anti-immobility effects, depending on the drug used. The immobility test appears to be insensitive to drugs activating or reducing 5-HT-ergic mechanisms in the brain.

Animals↗

The effect of antidepressants on ethylmorphine and imipramine N-demethylation in rat liver microsomes.

The effects of single and multiple doses of desipramine, amitriptyline or citalopram on the rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 level and on the rate of ethylmorphine and imipramine demethylation in-vitro have been investigated. Desipramine, amitriptyline or citalopram when given to rats as a single dose, did not affect the level of cytochrome P-450 in the liver microsomes, however, there was a tendency towards acceleration of imipramine, and particularly ethylmorphine, demethylation. Prolonged administration of desipramine and citalopram, but not amitriptyline, elevated the microsomal level of cytochrome P-450 and accelerated the rate of ethylmorphine demethylation. All the drugs investigated, when given chronically, inhibited the rate of imipramine demethylation. Since demethylation of ethylmorphine and imipramine in a CO atmosphere was inhibited by ca 90% for the former and only by 58% for the latter, it can be assumed that prolonged administration of the drugs investigated has two different effects on the oxygenase systems in rat liver microsomes: on the one hand they stimulate the cytochrome P450 oxygenase system involved in ethylmorphine demethylation and, on the other, they inhibit the other microsomal oxygenase system involved in demethylation of imipramine.

Animals↗

Kinetic interaction between fluoxetine and imipramine as a function of elevated serum alpha-1-acid glycoprotein levels.

The effect of elevated serum alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) levels on the pharmacokinetic interaction between imipramine and fluoxetine has been examined by utilizing a novel strain of transgenic mice which express serum AAG levels several times greater than normal. Before fluoxetine treatment, serum imipramine levels were approximately three times greater in transgenic mice than in control mice. Despite higher serum imipramine levels in transgenic mice, brain drug levels were lower than those found in control mice. Fluoxetine pre-treatment (20 mg kg(-1) for 5 days) resulted in an increase in serum imipramine levels in both groups of mice and the extent of the increase was greater in transgenic mice than in control mice (4.5-fold increase compared with 3.1-fold). Similarly, fluoxetine pre-treatment resulted in an increase in brain levels of imipramine in both groups of mice and the extent of the increase was greater in transgenic mice than in control mice (3.0-fold increase compared with 2.0-fold). Similar trends were observed for levels of desipramine in the serum and brain. Serum imipramine and desipramine levels did not correlate with their respective brain levels in the presence of elevated serum AAG levels before and after pre-treatment. These findings indicate that the extent of increases in imipramine and desipramine serum and brain levels are greater during elevated serum AAG states than during normal AAG states when imipramine is co-administered with fluoxetine.

Animals↗

Inhibitory effects of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) on human cytochrome P450 enzymes in vitro: mechanism of drug interaction between TCAs and phenytoin.

The ability of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) to inhibit phenytoin p-hydroxylation was evaluated in vitro by incubation studies of human liver microsomes and cDNA-expressed cytochrome p450s (p450s). The TCAs tested were amitriptyline, imipramine, nortriptyline, and desipramine. Amitriptyline and imipramine strongly and competitively inhibited phenytoin p-hydroxylation in microsomal incubations (estimated K(i) values of 5.2 and 15.5 micro M, respectively). In contrast, nortriptyline and desipramine produced only weak inhibition. In the incubation study using cDNA-expressed P450s, both CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 catalyzed phenytoin p-hydroxylation, whereas TCAs inhibited only the CYP2C19 pathway. All of the TCAs tested inhibited CYP2D6-catalyzed dextromethorphan-O-demethylation competitively, with estimated K(i) values of 31.0, 28.6, 7.9, and 12.5 micro M, respectively. The tertiary amine TCAs, amitriptyline and imipramine, also inhibited CYP2C19-catalyzed S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation (estimated K(i) of 37.7 and 56.8 micro M, respectively). The secondary amine TCAs, nortriptyline and desipramine, however, showed minimal inhibition of CYP2C19 (estimated IC(50) of 600 and 685 micro M, respectively). None of the TCAs tested produced remarkable inhibition of any other p450 isoforms. These results suggest that TCAs inhibit both CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 and that the interaction between TCAs and phenytoin involves inhibition of CYP2C19-catalyzed phenytoin p-hydroxylation.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗

Heterogeneity of electrically evoked dopamine release and reuptake in substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, and striatum.

Somatodendritic dopamine (DA) released in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) may mediate extrasynaptic neuronal signaling. The concentration of extracellular DA ([DA]o) attained during somatodendritic activation will be governed by the density of release sites and properties of DA uptake. We evaluated these factors in SNc, VTA, and dorsal striatum with carbon-fiber microelectrodes and fast-scan cyclic voltammetry to monitor [DA]o during local electrical stimulation (10 Hz, 5 s) in guinea pig brain slices. Stimulated DA efflux was site specific, with significantly higher [DA]o in caudal (0.48 +/- 0.03 microM, mean +/- SE) than rostral SNc (0.16 +/- 0.01 microM), averaged over their mediolateral extents, and higher [DA]o in VTA (0.74 +/- 0.07 microM) than in medial (0.43 +/- 0.04 microM) or lateral SNc (0.29 +/- 0.05 microM), averaged rostrocaudally. Throughout SNc, evoked [DA]o correlated positively (r = 0.91) with the density of tyrosine-hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells. Modulation of evoked [DA]o by uptake was also site specific. The selective DA uptake inhibitor GBR 12909 significantly increased evoked [DA]o in caudal SNc (to 185 +/- 27%) and striatum (408 +/- 24%), but had no effect in rostral SNc or VTA. Conversely, the norepinephrine (NE) uptake inhibitor desipramine did not alter stimulated [DA]o in caudal SNc or striatum, but caused significant enhancement in rostral SNc (196 +/- 17%) and VTA (126 +/- 12%). Paroxetine, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake inhibitor had little effect in any region tested. Site-specific sensitivity to desipramine mandated evaluation of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase immunoreactivity (D beta H-ir) in midbrain. The density of filaments positive for D beta H-ir was greater in rostral SNc and VTA than in caudal SNc, suggesting DA clearance via the NE transporter in these regions. Importantly, D beta H-ir was most dense in sections rostral to SNc where no catecholamine signal was detected and no enhancement was observed with desipramine, indicating a lack of NE contribution to evoked release in any region examined. Taken together, these data confirmed that evoked somatodendritic [DA]o depends on DA cell density and on local uptake properties. Uptake was less efficient in SNc and VTA than in striatum. Moreover, enhancement of stimulated [DA]o by GBR 12909 demonstrated that evoked release from dendrites is not via reversal of the DA transporter. Lastly, the heterogeneous patterns of DA uptake within SNc and VTA were consistent with the pattern of degeneration in Parkinson's disease; less vulnerable DA cells, e.g., those in VTA, have less DA uptake than the more vulnerable cells of caudal SNc.

Animals↗

Reduction of submissive behavior in rats: a test for antidepressant drug activity.

Randomly paired rats were food deprived overnight and placed in an apparatus compelling them to compete for a food reward. About half of these pairs developed a dominant-submissive relationship measured as a significant difference in time spent on the feeder by each rat. This relationship developed over a 2-week period and remained stable for at least the next 5 weeks. Treatment of the submissive subjects, for at least 2 weeks, with imipramine, desipramine, or fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) significantly reduced submissive behavior. The effect faded after cessation of treatment with desipramine. Fluoxetine was further tested at 2.5- and 5-mg/kg doses and showed a dose-dependent reduction of submissive behavior. Treatment of submissive rats with the anxiolytic diazepam (1 mg/kg) was ineffective. The prevalence of dominant-submissive relationships and the effect of desipramine and imipramine on submissive behavior were gender independent. The predictive, face, and construct validity of the behavioral test is discussed.

Animals↗

Plasma norepinephrine and dihydroxyphenylglycol in essential hypertension.

The aim of the present study was to examine whether essential hypertension is associated with altered plasma concentrations of dihydroxyphenylglycol, the principal presynaptic metabolite of norepinephrine. Forearm venous plasma dihydroxyphenylglycol and norepinephrine were determined at rest and during graded orthostasis in 47 normotensive control subjects and 58 outpatients with essential hypertension. There was no group difference in age. At supine rest as well as during sitting and standing, hypertensive subjects had plasma norepinephrine concentrations similar to those in normotensive control subjects, but plasma dihydroxyphenylglycol concentrations were higher than those in normotensive control subjects. Both groups showed a linear relation between plasma dihydroxyphenylglycol (ordinate) and plasma norepinephrine (abscissa). The resulting regression line was steeper (p less than 0.02) and its ordinate intercept higher (p less than 0.01) in hypertensive than in control subjects. Eleven normotensive and 14 hypertensive subjects were also tested 3 hours after desipramine (1.5 mg/kg orally) was administered to inhibit neuronal norepinephrine reuptake. The drug did not alter plasma norepinephrine, but did reduce plasma dihydroxyphenylglycol and did abolish plasma dihydroxyphenylglycol responses to upright posture in both groups of subjects. The mean plasma dihydroxyphenylglycol concentration observed in the presence of desipramine again was higher in the hypertensive than in the control group (p less than 0.01) and closely agreed, in both groups, with the dihydroxyphenylglycol concentration given by the ordinate intercept of the dihydroxyphenylglycol versus norepinephrine regression line in the absence of desipramine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

The use of antidepressants to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults.

There is increasing evidence that children continue to experience attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms into adult life. The two main treatments for ADHD are antidepressants and stimulants. Here, the effectiveness data relating to the use of antidepressants in adults with ADHD are reviewed. Four controlled and six open studies were identified. Although, there is only limited data currently available, antidepressants may offer an effective therapy for adult ADHD. Controlled trials have studied desipramine, atomoxetine and bupropion, with most evidence supporting the efficacy of desipramine. The initial data indicate that atomoxetine is less effective than desipramine. The efficacy of bupropion is unclear. Initial published open data suggest a response rate of 50-78% with venlafaxine. Controlled studies are required to confirm this efficacy. Most of the present data are short-term, therefore long-term effectiveness data are required.

Adult↗

Effects of quinupramine on the central monoamine uptake systems and involvement of pharmacokinetics in its pharmacological activities.

The effects of a new tricyclic antidepressant drug, quinupramine, on the monoamine uptake of rat brain homogenate preparations were studied in comparison with imipramine. Pharmacokinetic studies on quinupramine and imipramine in plasma and brain were also performed in rats after a single oral administration. Quinupramine had few effects on the noradrenaline and serotonin uptake both in in vitro and ex vivo models. After the administration of [3H]quinupramine, the unchanged drug was estimated as 60-75% of the total radioactivity in the cerebral cortex. Imipramine and desipramine preferentially inhibited the uptake of serotonin and noradrenaline, respectively, in vitro. After the administration, imipramine showed a marked inhibitory effect on noradrenaline uptake. A considerable amount of desipramine but not imipramine could be detected in the brain and plasma after the administration of [3H]imipramine. These results demonstrate that 1) the antidepressant activity of quinupramine cannot be attributed to inhibition of monoamine uptake, 2) unchanged quinupramine penetrates into the CNS and affects some of the processes of neurotransmission and 3) the pharmacological activities of imipramine, when administered orally, may be attributed to desipramine, the metabolite formed.

Animals↗

The effect of a selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, rolipram, on muricide in olfactory bulbectomized rats.

In order to evaluate the potential usefulness of the drug as an antidepressant, acute and chronic effects of rolipram, a selective inhibitor of Ca2+- and calmodulin-independent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase were investigated on muricide in olfactory bulbectomized (OB) rats. Upon single administration to OB rats, rolipram at a dosage of 1 mg/kg body weight suppressed the muricide for 2 hr after its administration. As a consequence of daily administration of rolipram, however, the incidence of muricide at 24 hr after the administration was decreased, and more than 60% of the rats did not exhibit the muricide on the 12th day. After the cessation of the administration, the incidence of the muricide returned to the initial level. The suppression of the muricide was not antagonized by several kinds of neurotransmitter blockers. Administrations of phosphodiesterase inhibitors and dibutyryl cyclic AMP as well as desipramine and clomipramine also suppressed the muricide dose-dependently. Repeated administration of desipramine also gave results similar to those of rolipram: repetition of a short suppression on the muricide was followed by the appearance of a long-lasting suppression. Differently from rolipram and desipramine, dibutyryl cyclic AMP did not cause long-lasting suppression, and even the direct effect (75% suppression) observed 30 min after its administration on the first day disappeared during its repeated administration for 14 days. From these results, rolipram was considered to show an antidepressant effect through the inhibition of Ca2+- and calmodulin-independent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase.

Animals↗

Treatment of resistant depression by adding noradrenergic agents to lithium augmentation of SSRIs.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of second-line augmentation with noradrenergic antidepressants (NAs) in depressed patients who partially responded to lithium augmentation of selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). CASE SUMMARY: Six patients with major depression or double depression (major depression and dysthymia) who were partially responsive to lithium and SSRI treatment were given either bupropion or desipramine, in an open clinical manner. Improvement was determined and rated by a psychiatrist based on clinical judgment guided by the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) improvement scale and by the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) as described in Axis V in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. RESULTS: Among the 6 depressed patients with partial remission (much improved in symptoms and moderate functional improvement: CGI score 2, GAF score 51-60) while taking the SSRI and lithium combination, 2 showed complete remission (very much improved in symptoms and good functioning: CGI 1, GAF 80-100) and 3 achieved near-complete remission (very much improved in symptoms and significant functional recovery: CGI 1, GAF 61-80) when given either bupropion or desipramine. One patient did not show any additional clinical or functional improvement. Second-line augmentation with bupropion was better tolerated than desipramine. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical observation suggests that second-line augmentation with NAs may be a viable option to optimize recovery in depressed patients with a partial response to lithium augmentation of SSRIs.

Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors↗