Amitriptyline Nortriptyline Plasma Levels and Therapeutic Response in Depressed Women

Abstract

The relationship has been studied between plasma levels of amitriptyline and nortriptyline, side-effects and clinical response in 77 depressed female patients admitted to the psychiatric department and treated with 50 mg/day (n = 38), with 100 mg/day (n = 28) and with 150 mg/day (n = 11) dosages of amitriptyline i.m. for a period of 4 weeks. The plasma concentrations of amitriptyline and nortriptyline were evaluated once weekly by gas-chromatography.