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The British Journal of Psychiatry 138: 248-251 (1981)
© 1981 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

A pilot study of the mechanism of action of desipramine

SA Checkley, AP Slade, E Shur and S Dawling

To test the hypothesis the desipramine alters alpha adrenoceptor function in depressed patients, the effects of clonidine upon growth hormone sedation and blood pressure have been measured in depressed patients before and after treatment with desipramine. After three weeks of treatment the hypotensive and sedative effects of clonidine were inhibited in all patients even though plasma desipramine concentrations at this time varied from 42 to 560 micrograms/l. Growth hormone responses to clonidine were enhanced in five of the six patients but this effect was not statistically significant. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that in these patients desipramine altered alpha adrenoceptor function: other explanation are discussed.


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