Rapid response to the addition of lithium in iprindole-resistant unipolar depression: a pilot study.
The authors administered lithium carbonate, 900 mg/day, in an open study to seven patients with a major unipolar depression refractory to 3-week treatment with iprindole, 90 mg/day, a tricyclic antidepressant devoid of any action on monoaminergic reuptake. All patients showed clinically significant improvement within 48 hours. Since iprindole induces in the animal a sensitization of forebrain neurons to serotonin (5-HT), as do other tricyclic antidepressants, and lithium enhances the activity of 5-HT neurons, the authors propose that an enhanced release of 5-HT on sensitized target neurons might underlie the rapid antidepressant effect in tricyclic-refractory depression when lithium is added to the treatment regimen.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007488:Iprindole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008094:Lithium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood
D007211:Indoles; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D012701:Serotonin; D007488:Iprindole; D014364:Tryptophan; D008094:Lithium