title: Usefulness of serotoninergic challenge with oral citalopram.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Challenge tests designed to evaluate serotoninergic pathways have widely used intravenous citalopram. Oral citalopram has also been used, but unsatisfactory results were obtained with a dose of 20 mg. The objective of this study was to determine whether a higher oral dose would reproduce similar to those described for intravenous administration. To that end, we evaluated cortisol, growth hormone and prolactin levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight healthy male volunteers were evaluated in a randomized crossover challenge test with 40 mg of oral citalopram or placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cortisol levels increased at 2-4h after the oral citalopram intake, with a small amplitude peak occurring in two-thirds of the subjects. Levels of prolactin and growth hormone remained unchanged throughout the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of oral citalopram might present an alternative in serotoninergic challenge tests, but higher doses are required.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Institute, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Paulo Barretto 91, 22280-010 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. paulomattos@mandic.com.br
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mattos
authors.forename: Vanessa A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Noel
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Segenreich
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015283:Citalopram / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D015283:Citalopram; D013006:Growth Hormone; D006728:Hormones; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D011388:Prolactin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors