Plasma trazodone concentrations in elderly depressed inpatients: cardiac effects and short-term efficacy.
Twenty-three depressed patients with an average age of 78.86 were treated with trazodone in dosages averaging 354.3 mg/day. Despite pretreatment cardiac conduction delay in 30%, no electrocardiographic abnormalities were produced or exaggerated during the study. Plasma steady state levels averaged 1,474.4 ng/ml and significantly correlated with dosage at r = 0.415. In a subgroup of 13 patients, six who sustained good short-term response to trazodone had lower mean steady state plasma levels than seven who did not, suggesting that plasma levels about 1,500 ng/ml may not be therapeutic in the short run.
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles.
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014196:Trazodone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014196:Trazodone