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The Serotonin Uptake‐Enhancing Drug Tianeptine Suppresses Asthmatic Symptoms in Children: A Double‐Blind, Crossover, Placebo‐Controlled Study
Author(s) -
Lechin Fuad,
Dijs Bertha,
Orozco Beatriz,
Jara Hector,
Rada Isais,
Lechin Marcel E.,
Lechin Alex E.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
the journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.92
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1552-4604
pISSN - 0091-2700
DOI - 10.1002/j.1552-4604.1998.tb04387.x
Subject(s) - tianeptine , crossover study , placebo , serotonin , asthma , medicine , randomized controlled trial , anesthesia , platelet , pharmacology , antidepressant , alternative medicine , receptor , pathology , hippocampus
Studies have shown that levels of free serotonin in plasma are increased in symptomatic patients with asthma. In addition, the concentration of free serotonin in symptomatic patients with asthma correlates positively with clinical status and negatively with pulmonary function. Thus, reducing the concentration of free serotonin in plasma might be useful in treating patients with asthma. We studied the effectiveness of tianeptine in treating patients with asthma. Tianeptine is the only drug known to be able to reduce levels of free serotonin in plasma and to enhance uptake by platelets. In this study, 69 children with asthma were assigned in randomized fashion to receive tianeptine and/or placebo in a double‐blind crossover trial that lasted 52 weeks. Tianeptine provoked a dramatic and sudden decrease in both clinical rating and free serotonin plasma levels and an increase in pulmonary function.