Cross hepatotoxicity between tricyclic antidepressants and phenothiazines.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To describe a case of cross hepatotoxicity between tricyclic antidepressants and phenothiazines.

PATIENT:

A woman who developed three episodes of drug-induced hepatitis within 3 years as a result of successive treatment with two tricyclic antidepressants, trimipramine and desipramine, and one neuroleptic derivative, cyamemazine.

INTERVENTIONS:

The drugs were withdrawn after the patient experienced liver dysfunction, although bromazepam was later administered with no side effects.

RESULTS:

After three episodes of drug-induced hepatitis the patient's serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels returned to normal when the tricyclic antidepressants and cyamemazine were withdrawn.

CONCLUSIONS:

Trimipramine, desipramine and cyamemazine are related by their chemical structures which include a tricyclic ring. This suggests that this chemical moiety might be involved in the hepatotoxicity of tricyclic antidepressants and phenothiazine derivatives.

• Authors: A J Remy, D Larrey, G P Pageaux, J Ribstein, J Ramos, H Michel
• Journal: European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology (Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol) Vol. 7 Issue 4 Pg. 373-6 (Apr 1995) ISSN: 0954-691X [Print] England
• PMID: 7600146 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
• Phenothiazines
• Trimipramine
• cyamemazine
• Desipramine

Topics

• Aged
• Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic (toxicity)
• Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury (etiology)
• Desipramine (toxicity)
• Female
• Humans
• Liver (drug effects)
• Phenothiazines (toxicity)
• Structure-Activity Relationship
• Trimipramine (toxicity)