title: Sertraline pharmacokinetics and dynamics in adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the pharmacokinetics of sertraline in adolescents and assess its effect on a surrogate marker of serotonin transport.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pharmacokinetic parameters of a single 50-mg dose of sertraline were determined in 10 adolescents. Steady-state withdrawal kinetics were determined in 12 adolescents taking 50 mg/day and in 6 adolescents taking 100 to 150 mg/day. Platelet serotonin reuptake was measured before and after 2 weeks of daily 50-mg dosing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean steady-state half-life of 50 mg was significantly shorter (15.3 +/- 3.5 hours) than the single-dose half-life (26.7 +/- 5.2 hours; t = 6.4, p < .001) and the steady-state half-life at 100 to 150 mg/day (20.4 +/- 3.4 hours; t = 2.9, p = .01). Platelet serotonin reuptake was inhibited by 61 +/- 15% after approximately 2 weeks of sertraline 50 mg/day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The half-life of sertraline 50 mg becomes significantly shorter from the initial dose to steady-state, and many adolescents may benefit from twice-per-day dosing. The steady-state half-life increases as the dose increases. The moderate levels of platelet reuptake inhibition at 50 mg/day indicate that most adolescents may need sertraline doses higher than 50 mg/day to attain a therapeutic response.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, PA 15213, USA. axelsonda@msx.upmc.edu
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Axelson
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Perel
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Birmaher
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nuss
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bridge
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brent
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent / Q000502:physiology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline