Summary
Systolic pressor effects after i.v. injection of tyramine (TA) were recorded in 13 patients before and during treatment with nortriptyline (NT) in doses of 1.4–5 mg/kg/day for 3–4 weeks. After NT a several fold decrease in the responsiveness to TA occurred. Patients given the same dose of NT showed markedly different decreases in the responsiveness to TA. There was no correlation between the blockade of the TA pressor effects and the dose of NT employed but there was an excellent correlation between the blockade and the plasma level of NT (p<0.001 and p<0.005 respectively). TA pressor effects were not changed in a small control group of depressed patients after treatment with E.C.T. The relationship between kinetics and effects of tricyclic antidepressants is discussed. The steady-state plasma level of NT seems to be an important determinant of its effects.
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Freyschuss, U., Sjöqvist, F. & Tuck, D. Tyramine pressor effects in man before and during treatment with nortriptyline or ECT: Correlation between plasma level and effect of nortriptyline. Pharmacol. Clin. 2, 72–78 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00420709
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00420709