Karabi Ghose

Antidepressant evaluation and the pharmacological actions of FG4963 in depressive patients.

FG4963 a phenylpiperidine derivative and potent 5-HT reuptake inhibitor at neuronal sites was investigated in a group of 10 depressive patients, and its effect was compared with that of amitryptyline in a group of 10 depressive patients treated with amitriptyline. FG4963 was found to be significantly inferior as an antidepressant compared to amitryptyline over a 6-week period. FG4963 did not appear to be anticholinergic as judged by its lack of effect on salivary flow. Its effect (in the dosage used) on the tyramine dose--pressor response and NA dose--pressor response tests were less than those of amitryptyline.

Intravenous tyramine pressor response in depression.

Tyramine-dose/pressor-response curves have been determined in 27 control subjects and 19 patients with primary depressive illness. In the depressive group, significantly lower doses of tyramine were required to elevate the systolic blood-pressure by 30 mm. Hg.

Clinical pharmacological studies of tandamine, a potential antidepressive drug

Tandamine hydrochloride, a thiopyranoindole, was more active than desmethylimipramine in inhibiting the tyramine pressor response after single oral doses in human volunteers. When compared with a placebo, tandamine was found to possess significant anticholinergic activity, to reduce appetite and to produce sedation. Compared with clomipramine, it caused a smaller inhibition of 5-HT but a more marked inhibition of dopamine uptake into human platelets. Further clinical and pharmacological studies with tandamine may help to elucidate the respective roles of different monoamines in depression, sedation and appetite.

Lithium in the prophylaxis of depressive illness in late life

Depression is one of the most common symptoms presented by the elderly (Kantor and Glassman, 1980). Depressive illness is a recurrent condition in 60% of cases and usually presents for the first time in the 40s. Depression in the older age group consists of patients whose illness arose earlier in life and persists until the older ages, and patients in whom depression presents for the first time in late life after 70.