title: Plasma tricyclic drug levels in amitriptyline-treated depressed patients.
abstract: In a double-blind phenelzine controlled clinical trial, 49 depressed outpatients were treated with a fixed dose of amitriptyline (AMI) 150 mg/day for 6 weeks. No significant relationships were found between steady-state plasma levels of AMI and its metabolite, nortriptyline, at 4 weeks and therapeutic response at 6 weeks or side effects. In the patient subgroup with more severe endogenous symptoms, there was a general trend for a weak positive association between AMI plasma levels and clinical improvement. Plasma tricyclic determinations appear to have little if any predictive value for antidepressant effect in outpatients treated with AMI.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000097:blood; D010624:Phenelzine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000639:Amitriptyline; D009661:Nortriptyline; D010624:Phenelzine