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Treatment of childhood hyperactivity with desipramine: Plasma drug concentration, cardiovascular effects, plasma and urinary catecholamine levels, and clinical response
Author(s) -
Donnelly Maureen,
Zametkin Alan J,
Rapoport Judith L,
Ismond Deborah R,
Weingartner Herbert,
Lane Elizabeth,
Oliver Jerry,
Linnoila Markku,
Potter William Z
Publication year - 1986
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.1986.13
Subject(s) - desipramine , catecholamine , norepinephrine , placebo , tricyclic , urinary system , imipramine , medicine , blood pressure , drug , endocrinology , clinical pharmacology , psychology , pharmacology , dopamine , alternative medicine , pathology , hippocampus , antidepressant
Twenty‐nine boys with attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity were randomly assigned to receive desipramine (DMI; n = 17) or placebo (n = 12) for 14 days in a noncrossover, double‐blind study. There was immediate behavioral improvement with DMI at day 3 that was sustained for 2 weeks; behavioral improvement did not correlate with plasma concentrations of DMI, hydroxy‐DMI, or their sum at either days 3 or 14. There were no untoward side effects; there was a drug‐induced increase in pulse and diastolic blood pressure. During drug therapy, the urinary excretion of norepinephrine, vanillymandelic acid, and 3‐methoxy‐4‐hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) was decreased at both days 3 and 14. The plasma MHPG level was decreased at days 3 and 14 and (standing) plasma NE levels increased at day 14. The decreases in both urinary and plasma MHPG levels showed significant correlations with behavioral improvement during the second week. These data corroborate previous findings on sympathomimetic effects of tricyclic antidepressants in children and support a noradrenergic mechanism in the mediation of drug effects on attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1986) 39, 72–81; doi: 10.1038/clpt.1986.13