title: Tricyclic antidepressant plasma levels: the state of the art and clinical prospects.
abstract: The authors review the main pharmacological factors playing a role in the kinetics of tricyclic antidepressant plasma levels. The current data concerning the relationship between tricyclic plasma levels and their clinical responses indicate that there is a therapeutic window at 50-150 ng/ml for the secondary derivatives (nortriptyline and desipramine). The lower limit of efficiency for the primary derivatives (imipramine and amitriptyline) is estimated at 200 ng/ml. The boundaries and prospects of the clinical use of antidepressant plasma levels are discussed in their various methodological aspects.
mesh_terms: D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000097:blood; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001711:Biotransformation; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003891:Desipramine / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000097:blood; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D000639:Amitriptyline; D009661:Nortriptyline; D007099:Imipramine; D003891:Desipramine