Lithium induces rapid relief of depression in tricyclic antidepressant drug non-responders.
Eight patients suffering from a major unipolar depression and having field to respond to treatment for three weeks or more with tricyclic antidepressants were given lithium. All eight patients experienced a remarkable relief of their depression within 48 hours. This rapid antidepressant effect of lithium in "treatment-resistant' patients might be due to the enhancement of the efficacy of the central serotoninergic system, unveiling the tricyclic antidepressant-induced sensitization of the serotoninergic postsynaptic receptors.
D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D012701:Serotonin; D008094:Lithium