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Specific Effects of Escitalopram on Neuroendocrine Response

NCT00150527 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 8

Last updated 2009-02-05

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is used as a neuroendocrine probe in human subjects to assess serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) function as reflected in prolactin and plasma cortisol release. Citalopram is a racemic mixture of equal parts of the S(+) and R(-) enantiomers. The S(+) form ("escitalopram") has been identified as being the active isomer and inhibitor of serotonin reuptake and consequently antidepressant activity is associated almost exclusively with the S-enantiomer. Escitalopram has been shown to be approximately twice as potent as citalopram at the primary, high-affinity binding site on the human serotonin transporter. Interestingly, investigations have suggested an antagonistic interaction of the R- and S-enantiomer at an allosteric binding site on the serotonin transporter. This antagonism has been shown in animal studies where the addition of R-citalopram to escitalopram treatments significantly counteracts the antidepressant and anti-anxiolytic effects of escitalopram. From these clinical and experimental data, the researchers can anticipate that escitalopram would increase cortisol and prolactin in the neuroendocrine challenge paradigm more effectively than citalopram.

Conditions

  • Healthy

Interventions

DRUG

Citalopram

40 mg, pill, single dose

DRUG

Escitalopram

20 mg, pill, single dose

DRUG

Dexamethasone

1 mg, pill, single dose

BEHAVIORAL

Cold Pressor Test

single test

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • H. Lundbeck A/S

    collaborator INDUSTRY

  • Queen's University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Nicholas J Delva, MD · Queen's University

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
59 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2005-09-30
Primary Completion
2006-12-31
Completion
2007-12-31

Countries

  • Canada

Study Locations

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Entities

Drugs

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT00150527 on ClinicalTrials.gov