Serotonin transporter occupancy with TCAs and SSRIs: a PET study in patients with major depressive disorder

The aim of the present clinical positron emission tomography study was to examine if the 5-HTT is a common target, both for tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Serotonin transporter (5-HTT) occupancy was estimated during treatment with TCA, SSRI and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lundberg, Johan, Tiger, Mikael, Landén, Mikael, Halldin, Christer, Farde, Lars
Format: Online
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2012
Online Access:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3409583/
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Summary:The aim of the present clinical positron emission tomography study was to examine if the 5-HTT is a common target, both for tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Serotonin transporter (5-HTT) occupancy was estimated during treatment with TCA, SSRI and mirtazapine in 20 patients in remission from depression. The patients were recruited from out-patient units and deemed as responders to antidepressive treatment. The radioligand [11C]MADAM was used to determine the 5-HTT binding potential. The mean 5-HTT occupancy was 67% (range 28–86%). There was no significant difference in 5-HTT occupancy between TCA (n=5) and SSRI (n=14). 5-HTT affinity correlated with the recommended clinical dose. Mirtazapine did not occupy the serotonin transporter. The results support that TCAs and SSRIs have a shared mechanism of action by inhibition of 5-HTT.