title: Effects of trazodone treatment on serotonergic function in depressed patients.
abstract: Changes in serotonergic (5HT) neurotransmission may mediate the therapeutic actions of some antidepressant drugs. In the present study, the 5HT precursor L-tryptophan (L-TRP) was administered intravenously to nine depressed patients before and during treatment with the triazolopyridine antidepressant trazodone (TRZ). Neuroendocrine, subjective mood, and cardiovascular responses to L-TRP were assessed. Unlike tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors, TRZ did not enhance the prolactin response to L-TRP and had little effect on other measures. Since other studies indicate that the TRP-induced increase of prolactin in humans may reflect 5HT function, the present study suggests that TRZ treatment does not enhance net 5HT function in depressed patients.
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Charney
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Heninger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014196:Trazodone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D014196:Trazodone