Rapid response to the addition of lithium in iprindole-resistant unipolar depression: a pilot study.

Abstract

The authors administered lithium carbonate, 900 mg/day, in an open study to seven patients with a major unipolar depression refractory to 3-week treatment with iprindole, 90 mg/day, a tricyclic antidepressant devoid of any action on monoaminergic reuptake. All patients showed clinically significant improvement within 48 hours. Since iprindole induces in the animal a sensitization of forebrain neurons to serotonin (5-HT), as do other tricyclic antidepressants, and lithium enhances the activity of 5-HT neurons, the authors propose that an enhanced release of 5-HT on sensitized target neurons might underlie the rapid antidepressant effect in tricyclic-refractory depression when lithium is added to the treatment regimen.

• Authors: C de Montigny, R Elie, G Caillé
• Journal: The American journal of psychiatry (Am J Psychiatry) Vol. 142 Issue 2 Pg. 220-3 (Feb 1985) ISSN: 0002-953X [Print] United States
• PMID: 3918468 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Indoles
• Lithium Carbonate
• Serotonin
• Iprindole
• Tryptophan
• Lithium

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Brain (drug effects)
• Depressive Disorder (blood, drug therapy, psychology)
• Drug Synergism
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Humans
• Indoles (therapeutic use)
• Iprindole (administration & dosage, blood, therapeutic use)
• Lithium (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Lithium Carbonate
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neurons (drug effects, metabolism)
• Pilot Projects
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Serotonin (metabolism)
• Tryptophan (blood)