title: Desipramine and 2-hydroxydesipramine plasma levels in endogenous depressed patients. Lack of correlation with therapeutic response.
abstract: Studies of the relationship between plasma concentrations of desipramine hydrochloride and clinical response have shown contradictory results, and only one prior study examined 2-hydroxydesipramine and its relationship to treatment. We therefore performed a study in a large, carefully diagnosed group of depressed patients taking fixed maintenance doses of desipramine to elucidate a potential relationship between clinical response and plasma concentrations of desipramine and 2-hydroxydesipramine. There was no significant correlation between clinical response and steady-state plasma levels of desipramine, 2-hydroxydesipramine, or the sum of desipramine plus 2-hydroxydesipramine. Although some commercial laboratories suggest a specific therapeutic plasma level "range" for desipramine, our data provide no support for such a range, nor for the routine measurement of plasma desipramine and 2-hydroxydesipramine concentrations in depressed patients.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003891:Desipramine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D003891:Desipramine; C028653:2-hydroxydesipramine