Reduction of whole blood serotonin in depressed patients treated with a new, selective serotonin-uptake inhibitor, femoxetine.
Femoxetine, a phenylpiperidine derivative with potent serotonin (5-HT)-uptake inhibitory properties, was investigated in 12 depressive patients for its clinical effect as well as its effect on 5-HT concentration in whole blood. The global evaluation after 6 weeks showed a good effect in six patients. The 5-HT concentration was found to be reduced from a mean value of 0.21 to about 0.05 micrograms/ml, indicating a total depletion of 5-HT from the thrombocytes. The steady-state concentrations of femoxetine resulted in reduction of 5-HT to the same level in all patients. No correlation between degree of 5-HT reduction and therapeutic effect was found.
D000840:Anisoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D000840:Anisoles; D010880:Piperidines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin; C010655:femoxetine