Noradrenaline uptake inhibition increases melatonin secretion, a measure of noradrenergic neurotransmission, in depressed patients

E. Palazidou, A. Papadopoulos, H. Ratcliff, S. Dawling, S. A. Checkley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Eight patients with endogenous depression who had received no antidepressant treatment for the previous year were treated with the noradrenaline (NA) uptake inhibitor, desipramine (DMI). Pre-treatment plasma melatonin concentrations were normal. After one day of DMI treatment plasma melatonin concentrations were increased but the response was impaired compared to normal subjects. The acute effect of DMI on plasma melatonin persisted after six weeks of treatment. These findings question the hypothesis that beta adrenoceptors are supersensitive in depression and that antidepressant drugs act by down-regulating these receptors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)309-315
Number of pages7
JournalPsychological Medicine
Volume22
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1992

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