Thyroid-Imipramine Interaction: Clinical Results and Basic Mechanism

The Action of Clomipramine on Thyroid Function

“…The relationship between thyroid disorders and psychiatric illness has been promoted for a long time. The evidence of a reduced TSH response to TRH in some depressed patients, the transient improvement in mental depression obtained after TRH therapy and the enhancement of the antidepressant activity of some tricyclic drugs by the thyroid hormones are well known (Prange, Wilson, Lara, Alltop and Breese 1972;Kastin, Ehrensing, Schalch and Anderson 1972;Wheatley 1972). However, the literature remained silent on the thyroidal effect of tricyclic drugs in depression.…”

MHPG Excretion by Patients with Affective Disorders

“…However, our data, as well as that of others, shows that not every depressed patient excretes less than normal amounts of MHPG (28,32,33, and see table I); therefore it seemed worthwhile to look for ways in which these patients who excreted less than normal amounts of MHPG might be more clearly identified. The results of these investigations are presented in that which follows.…”

The Effects of Psychopharmacological Agents on Central Nervous System Amine Metabolism in Man

“…Three separate groups of investigators (47)(48)(49) have demonstrated that treatment of patients with imipramine results in marked decrements in the urinary excretion ofvanilylmandelic acid (VMA) and an increment in urinary normetanephrine (NM) (which did not, however, equal the decrement in VM A). The experimental ap proaches in these investigations did not allow for a definitive interpretation as to the mechanisms that might be involved, although it appeared that a decrement in overall synthesis of catecholamines was being produced by imipramine.…”