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Correlation of Subjective Side Effects with Plasma Concentrations of Nortriptyline
- Source :
- BMJ. 4:18-21
- Publication Year :
- 1970
- Publisher :
- BMJ, 1970.
-
Abstract
- Plasma levels of tricyclic antidepressant drugs vary considerably between individuals receiving the same amount of drug. The bearing of this variation on the occurrence of subjective side effects was investigated in 40 psychiatric inpatients with depressive disorders. Plasma levels were determined before and during four weeks of treatment with nortriptyline 50 mg. three times a day and patients were rated for subjective side effects, the assessors being unaware of the plasma levels of the drug.Plasma levels varied widely between individual patients, but in any given patient the plasma level tended to be constant over a period of time. The side effects of nortriptyline diminished significantly with time and were in most cases absent during the fourth week of treatment. There was a significant positive correlation between plasma level of nortriptyline and subjective side effects.The steady-state plasma level of a drug which is metabolized is usually a more important determinant for its effect than dosage, since it reflects the amount of drug available for biological action. Very high plasma levels of nortriptyline should presumably be avoided, since there is no evidence that they are needed for therapeutic effect and they are potentially harmful.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Sleep Wake Disorders
Drug
medicine.medical_specialty
media_common.quotation_subject
Posture
Sweating
Tricyclic antidepressant drugs
Nortriptyline
Correlation
Internal medicine
Tremor
Humans
Medicine
Fatigue
Aged
General Environmental Science
media_common
business.industry
Therapeutic effect
Headache
General Engineering
Urination disorder
Papers and Originals
General Medicine
Middle Aged
Urination Disorders
Endocrinology
High plasma
Depression, Chemical
Plasma concentration
Vertigo
General Earth and Planetary Sciences
Female
business
Constipation
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14685833 and 09598138
- Volume :
- 4
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- BMJ
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....5719d01ad727f1f73c14b7dedda8db18