[Plasma levels of imipramine and desmethylimipramine and antidepressant effect during controlled therapy(author's transl)]

Abstract

24 depressed impatients received a standardized treatment by imipramine, 6 among them receiving also levomepromazine. Plasma concentration of imipramine and DMI were controlled weekly during the study, and standardized assessment of clinical state were made by a psychiatrist who was unware of biochemical findings. Interaction between the antidepressant and neuroleptic metabolism is shown by a significant increase of DMI levels, though the clinical effect of the drug association could not be asserted. The therapeutic effect seems mainly dependant of etiology of depression. Endogeneous depressions improve more than other types. Among endogenous depressions a significant correlation was found between the degree of clinical improvement after three weeks and DMI level, sum of imipramine + DMI level, but not with concentration of imipramine alone.