The menstrual cycle and the tyramine pressor response test.

Effects of Qi Therapy (External Qigong ) on Premenstrual Syndrome: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study

“…The improved supply of qi may thus have harmonized qi and blood, and restored the health of those meridians related to the uterus. There is evidence that women have increased norepinephrine receptor sensitivity during the few days before menses (Ghose and Turner, 1977). This hypersensitivity might explain the commonly experienced increases in negative premenstrual feelings such as anxiety, depression, and anger because these moods are heavily influenced by the noradrenergic system.…”

Tests of Autonomic Function in Assessing Centrally-Acting Drugs

“…Pharmac., 9, 307P-309P. GHOSE, K. (1977). Studies on the interaction between mianserin and noradrenaline in patients suffering from depressive illness.…”

“…Monoamine reuptake inhibiting antidepressives such as imipramine inhibit reuptake of NA released into the synaptic cleft, and also inhibit the uptake of tyramine, so reducing the pressor response to injected tyramine (Ghose, Gifford, Turner & Leighton, 1976). The pressor effect of noradrenaline, on the other hand, is potentiated (Ghose, 1977). Essentially, the tyramine pressor response test consists of administration of incremental doses of intravenous tyramine, beginning with 0.5 mg, in a relaxed supine subject.…”

“…From the dose response curve obtained, the tyramine dose required to elevate the systolic pressure by 30 mmHg after treatment with a drug is compared with that after placebo, to give a dose-ratio. Tyramine sensitivity is influenced by age, sex, hormonal status and psychiatric condition (Ghose, Turner & Coppen, 1975;Ghose & Turner, 1977), all of which must be considered when using it in clinical pharmacological studies. Nevertheless, when carried out under carefully controlled conditions, changes in tyramine sensitivity have been shown to correlate closely with plasma levels of monoamine uptake inhibiting drugs (Ghose et al, 1976 Turner & Wadsworth, 1978) are more appropriate for routine screening procedures in patients and normal volunteers.…”

Studies on the Interaction Between Mianserin and Noradrenaline in Patients Suffering From Depressive Illness

“…When the resting BP was steady the test was commenced. NA-dose/pressor response curves were determined in a way similar to those described in the tyramine-dose/pressor response test (Ghose, Gifford, Turner & Leighton, 1976) (Ghose, Turner & Coppen, 1975), and their menstrual cycle (Ghose & Turner, 1977). It can be seen that there was no significant change in sensitivity of the BP response to NA after 2-4 weeks treatment with mianserin.…”