Usefulness of serotoninergic challenge with oral citalopram.
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.
Mattos
Paulo
P
Psychiatry Institute, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Paulo Barretto 91, 22280-010 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. paulomattos@mandic.com.br
Franco
Vanessa A
VA
Noel
François
F
Segenreich
Daniel
D
Gonçalves
José Carlos
JC
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
D015283:Citalopram; D013006:Growth Hormone; D006728:Hormones; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D011388:Prolactin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors