Venlafaxine Nortriptyline

Antidepressants are used in the treatment of neuropathic pain and headache. They include the classic tricyclic compounds and are divided into nonselective nor-adrenaline/5-HT reuptake inhibitors (e.g., amitriptyline, imipramine, clomipramine, venlafaxine), preferential noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (e.g., desipramine, nortriptyline) and selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors (e.g., citalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine). The reuptake block leads to a stimulation of endogenous monoaminer-gic pain inhibition in the spinal cord and brain. In addition, tricyclics have NMDA receptor antagonist, endogenous opioid enhancing, Na+ channel blocking, and K+ channel opening effects which can suppress peripheral and central sensitization. Block of cardiac ion channels by tricyclics can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias. The selective 5-HT transporter inhibitors have a different side effect profile and are safer in cases of overdose [3]. 

The most effective treatment for cataplexy is the tricyclic antidepressants, fluoxetine, or venlafaxine. Imipramine, protriptyline, clomipramine, fluoxetine, and nortriptyline are effective in about 80% of patients. 

Tricyclic drugs have, as the name implies, a three-ring structure, and interfere with reuptake of norepinephrine and/or serotonin into axon terminals. Tricyclic drugs include imipramine (Tofranil), amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventil). Tricyclics have the occasional but unfortunate cardiovascular side effects of arrhythmia and postural hypotension. Newer, nontricyclic antidepressants have been developed that are collectively referred to as SSRIs. These have a potent and selective action on serotonin, and lack the cardiovascular side effects of the tricyclics. These include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and fluvoxamine (Luvox). A fifth SSRI, citalopram (Celexa) has been used in Europe and has recently been approved in the United States. Venlafaxine (Effexor) blocks reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin, while bupropion (Wellbutrin) acts on both dopamine and norepinephrine. 

Solid phase extraction (SPE) has been used to efficiently extract several types of antidepressants, which can then be conveniently analyzed on GC-NPD. One assay extracted and analyzed viloxazine, venlafaxine, imipramine, desipramine, sertraline, and amoxapine from whole blood in one procedure (Martinez et al., 2002). The same laboratory analyzed fluoxetine, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, trimipramine, maprotiUne, clomipramine, and trazodone in whole blood in one assay (Martinez et al., 2003). SPE has also been used for the simultaneous analysis of TCAs and their metabolites by de la Torre et al. (1998). 

NSRl Amitriptyline Amoxapine Desipramine Doxepin Duloxetine Maprotiline Nortriptyline Protriptyline Trimipramine Venlafaxine... 

Nortriptyline (Pamelor). A recent study suggested that the tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline, like bupropion, is effective in the treatment of smoking cessation. Nortriptyline does not have any significant effect on dopamine reuptake activity, but it does increase norepinephrine availability. Like bupropion, nortriptyline may therefore reduce the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Because nortriptyline carries the danger of lethality in overdose and has the unfavorable side effect profile of the tricyclics, we do not recommend its use for smoking cessation. However, it does raise the question as to whether other newer antidepressants that increase norepinephrine activity (e.g., venlafaxine, mirtazapine, duloxetine) may also prove to be effective treatments for nicotine withdrawal. 

The so-called atypical antidepressants such as venlafaxine and bupropion can be tried, but their safety and efficacy in treating patients with dementia have not been well studied. The older tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors are not tolerated well by demented patients and should be avoided. Two possible exceptions are nortriptyline (Pamelor) and desipramine (Norpramin), but even these should be tried only after the newer antidepressants have proved ineffective. 

Amitriptyline, clomipramine, imipramine, desipramine, nortriptyline, trimipramine, AT-desmethylclomipramine, fluvoxamine, norfluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, sertraline Neuroleptics... 

C. Nortriptyline (Pamelor) is a TCA, and as a class these drugs require at least one steady-state blood level to safely and effectively use the medication. Paroxetine, venlafaxine, and bupropion have not had blood levels correlated to response, and their relatively low toxicity does not require therapeutic blood monitoring. Nardil is a MAOI, which can be... 

Other alternatives to the stimulants that have been studied for treatment of ADHD in children and adults include the tricyclic antidepressants desipramine and nortriptyline the newer antidepressants bupropion, venlafaxine, and atomoxetine the beta-blocker pindolol and the selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor, deprenyl. Across these agents, the number of controlled studies varies from none (nortriptyline) to four (bupropion). Only deprenyl and desipramine have been studied in children with ADHD and tic disorders. 

P450 IID6 -fin women Inhibited by OCs Hydroxylation of nortriptyline and desipramine, haloperidol, clozapine, risperidone, venlafaxine Fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline... 

FIGURE 7-47. Heroic combo 3 High-dose venlafaxine plus NRI. Here, 5HT is single-boosted, NE is double-boosted, and DA may be single-boosted. The NRI could be either selective reboxetine or a nonselective TCA such as desipramine, maprotilene, nortriptyline, or protriptyline. 

Hence, there is little doubt that antidepressants may be useful as an adjunct in the treatment of patients with chronic pain. Traditional tricyclic medications such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline are often considered the drugs of choice for chronic pain.52 Newer drugs such as the SSRIs (e.g., paroxetine) and SNRIs (e.g., venlafaxine) might also be considered for some patients with fibromyalgia, neuropathies, and other forms of chronic pain.29 Future research should help clarify how specific antidepressants can be used most effectively as part of a comprehensive regimen for treating various types of chronic pain. 

OFFICIAL NAMES Amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), bupropion (Wellbutrin), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), fluoxetine (Prozac), imipramine (Norfranil, Tofranil), isocarboxazid (Marplan), maprotiline (Ludiomil), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), phenelzine (Nardil), protriptyline (Vivactil), sertraline (Zoloft), thioridazine (Mellaril), tranylcypromine (Parnate), trazodone (Desyrel), trimipramine (Sur-montil), venlafaxine (Effexor) the herb St. John s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is sold over-the-counter without prescription STREET NAMES Happy pills... 

Cyt 2D6 metabolizes haloperidol, risperidone, thioridazine, sertindole, olanzapine and clozapine common substrates - fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, amitriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, imipramine, nortriptyline, propranolol, metoprolol, timolol, codeine, encainide, flecanide. Common inhibitors - paroxetine, sertraline, fluoxetine. 

Imipramine, desipramine, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, trimipramine, clomipramine, lofepramine, amoxapine, dosulepin, maprotiline, mianserin, setiptiline, trazodone, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, milnacipram, sulpiride, tandspirone, methylpheni-date, melitracen Amitriptyline, imipramine, trimipramine, clomipramine, citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, reboxetine, viloxazine, doxepin, maprotiline, mianserine, mirtazapine, moclobemide, trazodone, opipramol (and some metabolites)... 

Psychodynamic supportive psychotherapy (n = 107) has been compared with psychotherapy plus medication (n = 101) in patients with major depressive disorder (93). The medications included venlafaxine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, nortriptyline, and nortriptyline plus lithium. Lithium was used as an augmentation strategy in the patients who took lithium and nortriptyline (number not given). There were no differences in outcomes between the two treatment groups. No adverse effects specific to lithium were reported. 

FIGURE 3.2. Protocol for thr STARED project, (a) Level 1 (b) level 2 (c) level 3 (d) level 4. CIT, citalopram SER, sertraline BUP, bupropion VEN, venlafaxine CT, cognitive-behavioral therapy BUS, Buspirone MIRT, mirtazpine NTP, nortriptyline LI, lithium THY, thyroid hormone TCP, tranylcypromine. 

Broom 2. Ginkgo biloba 3. Scopolia 4. Yohimbine 1. TCAs (e.g. amitriptyline, nortriptyline, clomipramine) 2. SSRIs (e.g. fluvoxamine fluoxetine, paroxetine) 3. Venlafaxine 4. Trazodone May develop cardiac arrhythmias and side-effects such as dryness of the mouth, retention of urine and tachycardia, t sedation Broom contains cardioactive alkalamines such as sparteine Inhibits metabolizing enzymes Anticholinergic properties (hyoscine present in scopolia may worsen side-effects of TCAs-additive antimuscarinic effects) Yohimbine alone can cause hypertension, but lower doses cause hypertension when combined with TCAs Unknown mechanism (ginkgo t sedative effects of trazodone) St John s wort inhibits the uptake of serotonin and thereby t serotonin levels Avoid concomitant use. An SSRI may be a better alternative to be used with broom... 

The older tricyclic agents show less than a ten-fold selectivity in inhibiting noradrenaline over that for 5-HT (e.g. desipramine, imipramine, nortriptyline) through amitryptyline. which shows virtually no selectivity, to trazodone, zimelidine and clomipramine, which are somewhat 5-HT selective. The newer Serotonin-Selective Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) show a higher selectivity for inhibition of 5-HT reuptake in the brain, and have a different pharmacology. Examples clinically used include citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, nefazodone, paroxetine, sertraline, trazodone and venlafaxine. Experimental agents include 6-nitroquipazine, alaproclate, litoxetine, indatraline and p-CIT. 

CYP2D6 Antidepressants amitriptyline, clomipramine, imipramine, desipramine, nortriptyline, trimipramine, N-desmethyl-clomipramine, fluoxetine, norfluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, sertraline Neuroleptics chlorpromazine, thioridazine, perphenazine, haloperidol, reduced haloperidol, risperidone, clozapine, sertindole Others codeine, opiate, propranolol, dextromethorphan 4 no activity 25% in Caucasians 0%-10% in others 5 no activity 2%-10% in all groups 10 reduced activity 47%-70% in Asians <5% in others 17 reduced activity 25%-40% in blacks 0% in others 2XN increased activity 19%-29% in Arabs and Ethiopians <5% in others... 

Clinically important, potentially hazardous interactions with amitriptyline, amoxapine, bupropion, citalopram, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, imipramine, meperidine, nefazodone, nortriptyline, paroxetine, pizotifen, protriptyline, rizatriptan, sertraline, sibutramine, sumatriptan, trimipramine, tryptophan, venlafaxine, zolmitriptan... 

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line treatment of depression in the elderly. Compared with tricyciic antidepressants (TCAs), they are much safer in overdose and, for the most part, their side-effects are better tolerated. The antidepressants that have been shown, in controlled studies, to be effective in geriatric major depression are the SSRIs fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline, the TCAs clomipramine and nortriptyline, and the serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRi) venlafaxine. Given that most antidepressants are effective in the elderly, the choice of drug is based on its side-effect profile and its potential to interact with other medications. 

Among the TCAs, desipramine and nortriptyline are the most recommended, since they have few anticholinergic side-effects. Sertraline has been studied in a placebo-controlled randomized trial and is considered one of the safest drugs for elderly patients post myocardial infarction, since it has no negative impact on cardiac measures. A number of placebo-controlled studies of post-stroke depression have shown efficacy for citalopram at doses of 10 mg and for nortriptyline (but not for fluoxetine). Venlafaxine may also be considered however, it should be used with caution since in 3-5% of patients it increases blood pressure. Mirtazapine may be used in patients with insomnia and decreased appetite due to its sedative side-effects and its promotion of increased appetite. ... 

Venlafaxine can cause a marked increase in the antimuscaiinic adverse effects of clomipramine, desipramine and nortriptyline. There are isolated reports of seizures in a patient taking venlafaxine and trimipramine and the serotonin syndrome has been seen in patients taking venlafaxine with, or shortly before, the use of tricyclics. 

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