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Electrocardiogram changes and plasma desipramine levels during treatment of depression
Author(s) -
Veith Richard C,
Friedel Robert O,
Bloom Valerie,
Bielski Robert
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1038/clpt.1980.113
Subject(s) - qt interval , desipramine , qrs complex , medicine , heart rate , electrocardiography , cardiology , pr interval , depression (economics) , plasma levels , clinical significance , anesthesia , blood pressure , antidepressant , macroeconomics , hippocampus , economics
Twenty‐six symptomatic subjects who met research diagnostic criteria for major affective disorder and were free of cardiovascular disease were treated for 3 wk with a fixed dosage schedule of desipramine (DMI) to a maximum of 200 mg/day. An electrocardiogram (ECG) and DMI plasma level determinations were obtained before treatment and weekly thereafter. DMI levels during the trial ranged from 13.4 to 882.2 ng/ml. DMI treatment was associated with increase in heart rate (p < 0.001), prolongation of the PR (p < 0.001), QRS (p < 0.001), and QT C intervals (p < 0.001), and increase in T wave amplitude (p < 0.001). Significant (p < 0.001) but relatively weak correlations were noted between DMI plasma levels and heart rate (r = 0.405), QRS interval (r = 0.346), QT C interval (r = 0.534), and T wave amplitude (r = −0.386). PR interval prolongation was independent of DMI levels (r = 0.171). DMI treatment induced no clinically significant ECG alterations or cardiovascular adverse effects. The relevance of DMI plasma level and the possible roles of other contributing factors in the production of these ECG changes are discussed. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1980) 27 , 796–802; doi: 10.1038/clpt.1980.113