title: Desipramine plasma concentration and therapeutic response in elderly depressives: a naturalistic pilot study.
abstract: This naturalistic pilot study of desipramine hydrochloride treatment in elderly DSM III diagnosed depressives demonstrated that therapeutic response was related to desipramine plasma levels and that a desipramine plasma concentration of 200 nmol/l significantly differentiated responders from non-responders. Plasma concentrations of 2-Hydroxydesipramine were not related to therapeutic response. This finding suggests that monitoring of desipramine plasma levels has utility in certain clinical situations. Further fixed dosage studies are necessary to confirm these initial results.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003891:Desipramine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D003891:Desipramine; C028653:2-hydroxydesipramine; D006854:Hydrocortisone