Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants in combination. Interactions and therapeutic uses. 1995

D Taylor
Maudsley Hospital, London.

BACKGROUND The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are now widely used in the treatment of depressive illness. Interest has grown in the use of SSRIs as alternatives to tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and in the therapeutic use of combinations of SSRIs and TCAs in refractory depression. METHODS MEDLINE and PSYCLit literature searches were conducted. Reference sections from papers retrieved were scrutinised for other relevant reports. RESULTS Of 41 relevant articles identified, 35 were selected for review. CONCLUSIONS Fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine and sertraline may substantially increase TCA plasma levels when given concurrently. Such interactions may give rise to adverse effects. The effect of sertraline may be less profound than that of fluoxetine, fluvoxamine and paroxetine. Limited data suggest that citalopram may not affect TCA serum levels. There is scant literature evidence to support the use of SSRIs in combination with TCAs as a treatment for refractory depression.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D003866 Depressive Disorder An affective disorder manifested by either a dysphoric mood or loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. The mood disturbance is prominent and relatively persistent. Depression, Endogenous,Depression, Neurotic,Depression, Unipolar,Depressive Syndrome,Melancholia,Neurosis, Depressive,Unipolar Depression,Depressions, Endogenous,Depressions, Neurotic,Depressions, Unipolar,Depressive Disorders,Depressive Neuroses,Depressive Neurosis,Depressive Syndromes,Disorder, Depressive,Disorders, Depressive,Endogenous Depression,Endogenous Depressions,Melancholias,Neuroses, Depressive,Neurotic Depression,Neurotic Depressions,Syndrome, Depressive,Syndromes, Depressive,Unipolar Depressions
D004347 Drug Interactions The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug. Drug Interaction,Interaction, Drug,Interactions, Drug
D004359 Drug Therapy, Combination Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect. Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000929 Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic Substances that contain a fused three-ring moiety and are used in the treatment of depression. These drugs block the uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin into axon terminals and may block some subtypes of serotonin, adrenergic, and histamine receptors. However, the mechanism of their antidepressant effects is not clear because the therapeutic effects usually take weeks to develop and may reflect compensatory changes in the central nervous system. Antidepressants, Tricyclic,Tricyclic Antidepressant,Tricyclic Antidepressant Drug,Tricyclic Antidepressive Agent,Tricyclic Antidepressive Agents,Antidepressant Drugs, Tricyclic,Agent, Tricyclic Antidepressive,Agents, Tricyclic Antidepressive,Antidepressant Drug, Tricyclic,Antidepressant, Tricyclic,Antidepressive Agent, Tricyclic,Drug, Tricyclic Antidepressant,Drugs, Tricyclic Antidepressant,Tricyclic Antidepressant Drugs,Tricyclic Antidepressants
D017367 Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Compounds that specifically inhibit the reuptake of serotonin in the brain. 5-HT Uptake Inhibitor,5-HT Uptake Inhibitors,5-Hydroxytryptamine Uptake Inhibitor,5-Hydroxytryptamine Uptake Inhibitors,SSRIs,Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor,Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor,Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors,Serotonin Uptake Inhibitor,Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors,Inhibitors, 5-HT Uptake,Inhibitors, 5-Hydroxytryptamine Uptake,Inhibitors, Serotonin Reuptake,Inhibitors, Serotonin Uptake,Reuptake Inhibitors, Serotonin,Uptake Inhibitors, 5-HT,Uptake Inhibitors, 5-Hydroxytryptamine,Uptake Inhibitors, Serotonin,Inhibitor, 5-HT Uptake,Inhibitor, 5-Hydroxytryptamine Uptake,Inhibitor, Serotonin Reuptake,Inhibitor, Serotonin Uptake,Reuptake Inhibitor, Serotonin,Uptake Inhibitor, 5-HT,Uptake Inhibitor, 5-Hydroxytryptamine,Uptake Inhibitor, Serotonin

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