Effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan on serum cortisol levels in major affective disorders. III. Effect of antidepressants and lithium carbonate.
Serum cortisol levels were significantly increased following administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), 200 mg orally, to patients with affective disorders. A three- to five-week period of treatment with lithium carbonate or monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor augmented the mean 5-HTP-induced increase in serum cortisol concentration in manic or depressed patients, respectively: tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) and second-generation antidepressant treatment diminished the mean serum cortisol response in patients with major depression. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that lithium carbonate may enhance serotonin (5-HT) receptor sensitivity, whereas TCA and second-generation antidepressants diminish 5-HT receptor sensitivity. The enhancement of the cortisol response to 5-HTP by MAO inhibitors may be due to decreased metabolism of 5-HT. It is important to assess the effect of thymoleptic drug treatment on various responses to biogenic amine precursors or agonists in patients rather than laboratory animals.
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008094:Lithium; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D006854:Hydrocortisone