Effect of amitriptyline on endocrine responses to intravenous L-tryptophan.

Journal article

The endocrine responses to the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) precursor, L-tryptophan, were assessed in 10 depressed patients before and after at least 4 weeks of treatment with amitriptyline. Overall, amitriptyline did not alter either prolactin or growth hormone responses to L-tryptophan. When three subjects with severe pretreatment weight loss were excluded, however, the remaining seven patients showed a significant increase in the prolactin response to L-tryptophan, consistent with other published studies. The findings suggest that severe recent weight loss may alter the effects of tricyclic antidepressants on 5HT-mediated prolactin release.

Authors: Cowen, P; McCance, S; Gelder, MG; Grahame-Smith, D

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Psychiatry research
• Volume: 31
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 201-208
• Publication date: 1990-02-01
• DOI: 10.1016/0165-1781(90)90122-l
• EISSN: 1872-7123
• ISSN: 0165-1781
• Language: English
• Keywords: Personality Tests; Depressive Disorder; Middle Aged; Female; Weight Loss; Male; Amitriptyline; Growth Hormone; Tryptophan; Humans; Adult; Prolactin