title: Interaction between fluvoxamine and imipramine/desipramine in four patients.
abstract: We describe four patients in whom the addition of fluvoxamine (100 mg/day) to the treatment with imipramine or desipramine (100-150 mg/day) resulted in a dramatic increase in the plasma concentrations of the tricyclic antidepressants associated with adverse effects. These observations indicate that fluvoxamine inhibits both the demethylation of imipramine and, possibly to a lesser extent, the hydroxylation of desipramine. The combination of fluvoxamine with tricyclic antidepressants should be avoided whenever possible.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spina
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avenoso
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pollicino
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Caputi
mesh_terms: D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D003891:Desipramine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D016666:Fluvoxamine; D007099:Imipramine; D003891:Desipramine