title: Clinical implications of imipramine plasma levels for depressive illness.
abstract: Sixty depressed nonschizophrenic patients were admitted to a research unit. Following one drug-free week and one week of placebo, patients received 3.5 mg/kg of imipramine hydrochloride for 28 days. Plasma levels of imipramine and its metabolite desipramine hydrochloride (desmethylimipramine) were measured three times weekly and the relationship between plasma steady-state levels and clinical outcome was examined. Steady-state levels ranged from 50 to 1,050 ng/ml. There was a statistically and clinically significant relationship between plasma levels and response. The relationship existed across the entire sample, and was accentuated when the bipolar and unipolar nondelusional populations were examined. Because a strong relationship between sex and outcome was observed, the unipolar nondelusional patients were stratified by sex and a significant relationship still persisted. Only the unipolar delusional patients failed to demonstrate an association between blood level and clinical response.
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D003702:Delusions / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003891:Desipramine / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D007099:Imipramine; D003891:Desipramine