Altered prolactin response to clomipramine rechallenge in healthy subjects

Biol Psychiatry. 1993 Dec 15;34(12):885-8. doi: 10.1016/0006-3223(93)90056-j.

Abstract

The effect of an initial challenge with the serotonin (5-HT) uptake inhibitor clomipramine (CMI) on subsequent rechallenge was studied in healthy men who served as volunteers. Carefully screened volunteers were assigned to one of three conditions: (1) CMI challenge followed 2 weeks later by CMI rechallenge; (2) placebo challenge followed 2 weeks later by CMI challenge; and (3) CMI challenge followed 4 weeks later by CMI rechallenge. We found significant blunting of the prolactin response to CMI rechallenge 2 weeks (Signed Rank = -12, p = 0.05), but not 4 weeks after an initial challenge. Placebo challenge did not effect CMI challenge 2 weeks later. These findings suggest that a single exposure to IV CMI may cause 5-HT receptor changes that are present 2, but not 4 weeks later. The ramifications of this finding with regard to the use of 5-HT challenge paradigms in a test-retest design are discussed.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Clomipramine / pharmacology*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prolactin / blood*
  • Receptors, Serotonin / drug effects
  • Receptors, Serotonin / physiology

Substances

  • Receptors, Serotonin
  • Prolactin
  • Clomipramine