engleski

Hormonal measurements during sertraline treatment

Serotonin (5-HT) pathways seem to modulate hormonal secretion. Treatment with SSRI, which facilitate 5-HT neurotransmission, may affect basal plasma prolactin and cortisol levels. The aim of our study was to investigate whether sertraline affects cortisol, prolactin, T3, T4 and TSH levels, during short-term (4 weeks) and long-term (24 weeks) treatment, respectively. We studied 21 female, non-psychotic and non-suicidal depressed in-patients (DSM-IV criteria), mean age 54.8 years, who scored at least 21 on the 10 item MADRS. Patients received 25-100 mg of sertraline daily, after 8 days of wash-out period. Plasma samples were collected at baseline, after 4 weeks and after 24 weeks. Fifteen patients completed the 24 weeks study period, with significant improvement of MADRS (p<0.001) and of HAMD (p<0.001). One-way ANOVA showed no significant difference in plasma cortisol (p=0.51), prolactin (p=0.74), T3 (p=0.083), T4 (p=0.215)or TSH (p=0.575) levels. Dexamethasone suppression test (DST) did not differ between baseline, 4 weeks and 24 weeks of sertraline treatment (p=0.76). Our data suggest that, regarding hormonal values, sertraline can be safely prescribed as a long-term treatment to female depressed patients.

sertraline; cortisol; prolactin; T3; T4 and TSH levels; Dexamethasone suppression test; DS); depressive disorders

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