title: Effects of nortriptyline on heart rate variability in panic disorder patients: a preliminary study using power spectral analysis of heart rate.
abstract: Previous reports on heart rate variability suggest that, compared to controls, panic disorder patients have a higher relative mid-frequency (MF) (0.07-0.15 Hz) power in standing posture and that they also have a greater increase in standing MF power after the administration of yohimbine. We studied the effects of nortriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, on HR variability measures in 13 panic disorder patients before and after successful treatment. There was a highly significant increase in supine and standing HR (p = 0.00001) while there was a significant decrease of standing absolute and relative MF power (p = 0.009 and 0.0001 respectively). This uncontrolled preliminary study suggests a decrease in sympathetic activity related to nortriptyline treatment in addition to its anticholinergic effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, Mich.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Yeragani
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramesh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011187:Posture; D016683:Supine Position / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009661:Nortriptyline