title: Amitriptyline and nortriptyline plasma levels, urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol and clinical response in depressed women.
abstract: Thirty-eight depressed female inpatients, treated intramuscularly with 100 mg/day amitriptyline (AMT), were monitored to investigate the relationships between plasma levels of the drug and its metabolite nortriptyline (NT), the urinary excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), side effects and clinical response. Considering the whole group, the clinical improvement was better within an intermediate range of AMT plus NT plasma concentrations (100-200 ng/ml). A more favorable outcome was also observed at NT plasma levels below 55 ng/ml. No significantly different percent clinical response among the patient clinical subgroups was observed as well as no significant correlations between MHPG decrease and drug plasma levels.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006018:Glycols / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D006018:Glycols; D000639:Amitriptyline; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D009661:Nortriptyline