title: Lithium increases 5-HT-mediated neuroendocrine responses in tricyclic resistant depression.
abstract: The addition of lithium to the tricyclic antidepressant medication of 11 depressed patients resulted in an increase in the prolactin response to L-tryptophan after both 4 days and 4 weeks of lithium treatment. There was also a significant fall in Hamilton Depression scores. The results suggest that lithium and tricyclic antidepressants may act synergistically to enhance certain aspects of brain 5-HT function in depressed patients.
authors.affiliation: MRC Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cowen
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: McCance
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Julier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan; D011388:Prolactin; D008094:Lithium