title: Platelet MAO and amitriptyline treatment.
abstract: Some tricyclic antidepressants have been reported to inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in vitro in addition to blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine and/or serotonin. While the inhibition of MAO is reversible, platelet MAO activity in depressed patients responding to amitriptyline treatment has been reported to be reduced after drug treatment. In a reverse design, we measured platelet MAO activity and drug levels in patients chronically being treated with amitriptyline and again 2 and 4 weeks after stopping the medication. Although tricyclic drug concentrations were initially within the therapeutic range and undetectable on placebo treatment, platelet MAO activities were unchanged.
mesh_terms: D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000639:Amitriptyline; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase