Diazepam alters brain 5-HT function in man: implications for the acute and chronic effects of benzodiazepines

1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 601-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Nutt ◽  
P. J. Cowen
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Healthy Male ◽  
Acute Dose ◽  
Chronic Effects ◽  
Healthy Male Volunteers ◽  
Hormone Responses ◽  
Neuroendocrine Responses ◽  
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal ◽  
Acute And Chronic Effects

SynopsisThe effect of diazepam on brain 5-HT-mediated neuroendocrine responses was studied in healthy male volunteers. An acute dose of diazepam (15 mg) significantly attenuated the prolactin and growth hormone responses to intravenous L-tryptophan. After 3 weeks administration of diazepam (25 mg/d) these responses had returned to normal despite much higher plasma diazepam concentrations, suggesting that tolerance had occurred. A reduction in brain 5-HT function may underlie some of the acute therapeutic actions of benzodiazepines. It is possible that excessive ‘rebound’ 5-HT activity may contribute to the abstinence syndrome seen on benzodiazepine withdrawal.

scholarly journals Usefulness of serotoninergic challenge with oral citalopram

2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Mattos ◽  
Vanessa A Franco ◽  
François Noel ◽  
Daniel Segenreich ◽  
José Carlos Gonçalves
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Oral Dose ◽  
Intravenous Administration ◽  
Small Amplitude ◽  
Challenge Test ◽  
Healthy Male ◽  
Healthy Male Volunteers ◽  
Male Volunteers ◽  
Challenge Tests ◽  
Higher Doses

OBJECTIVE: Challenge tests designed to evaluate serotoninergic pathways have widely used intravenous citalopram. Oral citalopram has also been used, but unsatisfactory results were obtained with a dose of 20 mg. The objective of this study was to determine whether a higher oral dose would reproduce similar to those described for intravenous administration. To that end, we evaluated cortisol, growth hormone and prolactin levels. METHOD: Eight healthy male volunteers were evaluated in a randomized crossover challenge test with 40 mg of oral citalopram or placebo. RESULTS: Cortisol levels increased at 2-4h after the oral citalopram intake, with a small amplitude peak occurring in two-thirds of the subjects. Levels of prolactin and growth hormone remained unchanged throughout the study. CONCLUSION: The use of oral citalopram might present an alternative in serotoninergic challenge tests, but higher doses are required.

Effect of phenobarbital on sleep and nighttime plasma growth hormone and Cortisol levels

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (11) ◽  
pp. 1139-1145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia N. Prinz ◽  
Michael V. Vitiello ◽  
Timothy A. Roehrs ◽  
Markku Linnoila ◽  
Elliott D. Weitzman
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Sleep Onset ◽  
Drug Condition ◽  
Plasma Growth Hormone ◽  
The Third ◽  
Chronic Effects ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Acute And Chronic Effects

The acute and chronic effects of phenobarbital and phenobarbital withdrawal on sleep patterns and on plasma growth hormone (GH) and Cortisol fluctuations occurring during sleep were studied. Before bed, five healthy men, aged 21 to 25, were given a placebo on three baseline nights, phenobarbital (100 mg p.o.) for nine nights, and a placebo on a final withdrawal night. Beginning on the third of three consecutive nights in the laboratory, all-night polygraphic sleep recordings and blood samples (obtained every 20 min through indwelling venous cannulae) were collected for the placebo, acute phenobarbital, chronic phenobarbital, and phenobarbital withdrawal conditions.Blood phenobarbital levels ranged between 5 to 9 μg/100 mL across all hours of the chronic drug night. At this low sedative dose, latency to sleep onset and stage 4 sleep were significantly reduced in the chronic drug condition, but REM sleep was not significantly reduced. No significant sleep change was observed on the withdrawal night. Both peak GH level and total integrated GH across the night were unaffected by the acute, chronic, and withdrawal conditions. The pattern of GH release appeared to be altered on the phenobarbital and phenobarbital withdrawal nights as compared with placebo. Nighttime plasma cortisol levels were not significantly altered by any experimental condition.

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