Effects of Psychotropic Drugs (desimipramine, Chlorimipramine, Sulpiride and Diazepam) on the Human HPA Axis

Overview

Journal Psychopharmacology (Berl)

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 1984 Jan 1

PMID 6093182

Citations 18

Authors

G Laakmann

M Wittmann

M Gugath

O A Mueller

J Treusch

U Wahlster

G K Stalla

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The effects of acute administration of different psychotropic drugs on the human hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis were examined in six groups consisting of six healthy male subjects each, compared to placebo. Desimipramine (DMI) (50 mg IV) significantly stimulated ACTH secretion. DMI (25 and 50 mg IV) and chlorimipramine (CI) (25 mg IV) significantly stimulated cortisol, whereas neither sulpiride (100 mg IV) nor diazepam (10 mg IV) significantly affected secretion of cortisol, as compared to placebo. Since DMI primarily inhibits norepinephrine (NE) uptake and CI primarily that of serotonin (5-HT), whereas sulpiride is a dopamine(DA)-receptor blocker and diazepam a GABA-agonistic benzodiazepine derivative, NE and 5-HT uptake-inhibiting antidepressants seem to influence the HPA axis via the central nervous system.

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