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T Skjold

Publications and source records attributed to T Skjold.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Lack of effect of mianserin on the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

The effect of the non-tricyclic antidepressant mianserin on symptoms of diabetic neuropathy has been studied in 18 patients in a double-blind, cross-over study with imipramine as a positive control. The patients were treated with placebo, mianserin, and imipramine, each for two weeks, in randomized order, with 1-3 weeks between the treatments. The symptoms were assessed by observer and self-rating scales. Mianserin was given in the fixed dosage of 60 mg per day, whereas the dose of imipramine was adjusted to yield the optimal plasma concentration of imipramine plus desipramine of 400-600 nmol.l-1. The mianserin plus desmethylmianserin plasma concentration ranged from 85 to 850 nmol.l-1, with the highest concentration in a patient who was a poor metabolizer of both sparteine and mephenytoin. The symptoms of neuropathy were significantly reduced during imipramine treatment, although somewhat less than in earlier studies. In contrast, mianserin produced no change in symptoms in comparison with placebo. As there was no evidence that higher mianserin (plus metabolite) steady-state concentrations were associated with a more favourable effect, the negative outcome appeared not to be related to underdosing with mianserin. In contrast to drugs with documented effects on the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, mianserin has a very weak or no inhibitory effect on 5-HT and noradrenaline reuptake and this may explain its poor clinical effect.

Adult

Concentration-response relationship in imipramine treatment of diabetic neuropathy symptoms.

A single-blind imipramine dose titration study was conducted in 15 diabetic patients with neuropathy symptoms. The effect of treatment was evaluated by use of visual analog scales. Imipramine doses were individually adjusted until doses yielded plasma concentrations of imipramine plus desipramine that were well above 400 nmol/L or until all neuropathy symptoms had vanished. In all except one patient, there was marked relief of symptoms. In the responding patients (n = 14), much of the effect occurred at plasma levels of imipramine plus desipramine below 100 nmol/L, but a considerable interindividual variation was observed. Concentrations above 400 to 500 nmol/L were required to ensure maximal effect in all patients, and we did not find any indication of a decreased effect at high drug levels. The dose-dependent kinetics of imipramine was confirmed, and dose increments should therefore be carried out in small steps and preferably with monitoring of drug levels.

Adult

Clomipramine vs desipramine vs placebo in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy symptoms. A double-blind cross-over study.

1. The effect of clomipramine and desipramine on diabetic neuropathy symptoms was examined in a double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled, cross-over study for 2 + 2 + 2 weeks. Drug doses were adjusted according to the sparteine phenotype, i.e. extensive metabolisers were treated with 75 mg clomipramine day-1 and 200 mg desipramine day-1 whereas poor metabolisers were treated with 50 mg day-1 of both drugs. Nineteen patients completed the study. 2. Plasma concentration of clomipramine plus desmethylclomipramine was 70-510 nM in extensive metabolisers, vs 590 and 750 nM in two poor metabolisers. Desipramine levels were 130-910 nM, vs 860 and 880 nM. 3. Both clomipramine and desipramine significantly reduced the symptoms of neuropathy as measured by observer- and self rating in comparison with placebo. Clomipramine tended to be more efficacious than desipramine. Patients with a weak or absent response on clomipramine had lower plasma concentrations (clomipramine plus desmethyl-clomipramine less than 200 nM) than patients with a better response. For desipramine a relationship between plasma concentration and effect was not established. 4. Side effect ratings did not differ for clomipramine and desipramine and on both drugs three patients withdrew due to side effects. 5. Compared with earlier results obtained with imipramine dosed on the basis of plasma level monitoring, clomipramine and desipramine on fixed doses appeared less efficacious whereas the side effect profiles were the same. At least for clomipramine, appropriate dose adjustment on the basis of plasma level monitoring may increase the efficacy.

Adult