An adrenergic drug in depression.
It has been suggested that depression is a disease of cholinergic dominance and since the beta-adrenergic blocking drug propranolol hydrochloride can cause depression, there arises the possibility that a beta-adrenergic stimulant could benefit the condition. For ethical reasons, the adrenergic drug metaproterenol sulfate was combined with chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride and compared to placebo and chlordiazepoxide in a formal double-blind trial. However, the results did not show any advantage for the addition of metaproterenol either in respect of enhanced antidepressant effect or a reduced incidence, nature, or severity of side-effects.
D002707:Chlordiazepoxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D009921:Metaproterenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D013997:Time Factors
D004338:Drug Combinations; D010919:Placebos; D009921:Metaproterenol; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide