There are very divergent appraisals of the effect of antidepressants on thyroid parameters and their possible correlation with the response. Whereas there are numerous investigations of tricyclic antidepressants, so far, there are only limited data on the possible effect of serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitors on neuroendocrine parameters. The present study showed a significant reduction of 11.2% in thyroxine during treatment with 20 mg paroxetine in 25 severely depressed patients.

No abstract

In an open pilot study of 21 therapy-resistant depressive inpatients, plasma levels of antidepressants were determined during treatment with a combination of moclobemide/ trimipramine (n = 15) and moclobemide/maprotiline (n = 6). After combined administration of trimipramine and moclobemide (MCB), a significant increase in the plasma level of trimipramine (39%) was observed. After combination of maprotiline with moclobemide, maprotiline levels were increased (25%, n.s.). The results show that moclobemide, as an inhibitor of isoenzymes of the cytochrome P 450 oxidase, can cause increases in the plasma levels of tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants. No correlation between the serum level of the antidepressants and treatment outcome was found in this open study.

There are only few data on the effects of atpyical neuroleptics on thyroid function. In an open pilot study of 12 inpatients with delusional depression, thyroid hormone levels and TRH-TSH test were determined during neuroleptic treatment with zotepine. No significant changes in triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and delta-TSH levels were found in this observation period (28 days).