Carbamazepine augmentation therapy in three patients with trazodone-resistant unipolar depression.
In three patients with trazodone-resistant unipolar depression, carbamazepine 400 mg/day was co-administered for 4 weeks. They all showed favourable responses; two non-delusional patients completely or almost recovered, while one delusional patient showed considerable improvement in depressive symptoms other than delusions of guilt. Plasma concentrations of trazodone and its active metabolite m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) were decreased, while the m-CPP/trazodone ratio was increased in all cases. The present report suggests that carbamazepine augments antidepressant effects of trazodone by an enhancement of serotonin function.
Otani
K
K
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hirosaki University Hospital, Japan.
Yasui
N
N
Kaneko
S
S
Ohkubo
T
T
Osanai
T
T
Sugawara
K
K
D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014196:Trazodone / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014196:Trazodone