Current perception thresholds of patients with long-term administration of maprotiline.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate sensory nerve function using current perception thresholds (CPTs) in patients who were administrated maprotiline. Twelve patients with post-herpetic neuralgia and 20 control subjects were studied. The patients with post-herpetic neuralgia were given a daily dose of 60 mg of maprotiline and were maintained at the same dose for 6 months. Twenty control subjects were randomly selected from healthy volunteers. ACPT test was used for quantitative assessment of A beta, A sigma, and C fiber transmission, which are associated with pain, by three (2000, 250, and 5 Hz) different frequencies of electric stimulation. CPTs of 5, 250, and 2000 Hz in patients with post-herpetic neuralgia 2 months after administration of maprotiline were 141.7 +/- 17.3 for 5 Hz, 120.8 +/- 12.9 for 250 Hz, and 256.4 +/- 18.0 for 2000 Hz, which were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than those (67.0 +/- 9.1 for 5 Hz, 73.4 +/- 7.0 for 250 Hz, and 191.3 +/- 20.2 for 2000 Hz) before treatment and than those (35.3 +/- 15.8, 62.0 +/- 18.9, and 198.9 +/- 15.8) of control subjects. An increase in CPT for 5 Hz at 2 months after administration of maprotiline correlated (r = 0.71, p = 0.01) with a decrease in pain score. There were no correlations between an increase in CPT and changes in Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) values until 3 months after maprotiline treatment. However, we found that an increase in CPT for 5 Hz at 6 months after maprotiline treatment correlated (r = 0.68, p = 0.015) with a decrease in HAMD values. In conclusion, administration of 60 mg maprotiline significantly increased current perception thresholds at 2 months after the administration.

• Authors: A Kudoh, H Katagai, T Takazawa
• Journal: Pharmacopsychiatry (Pharmacopsychiatry) 2003 Mar-Apr Vol. 36 Issue 2 Pg. 57-60 ISSN: 0176-3679 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 12734762 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors
• Maprotiline

Topics

• Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Aged
• Depression (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Double-Blind Method
• Electric Stimulation (instrumentation)
• Female
• Herpesviridae Infections (complications)
• Humans
• Male
• Maprotiline (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Neuralgia (drug therapy, etiology, physiopathology)
• Pain Measurement
• Peripheral Nerves (physiopathology)
• Sensory Thresholds (drug effects)
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Time