Oral application of citalopram (20 mg) and its usefulness for neuroendocrine challenge tests.

The present study was conducted to investigate whether a single oral dosage of 20 mg of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram could be used as a tool to stimulate hormone secretion in neuroendocrine challenge paradigms. A total number of 48 healthy male subjects received either 20 mg citalopram or placebo in a randomized, double-blind cross-over design at an interval of 1 wk between both sessions. Citalopram was well tolerated without side-effects. Growth hormone (GH), prolactin (Prl) and cortisol (Cort) were determined in blood samples obtained at different time-points across the experiment according to drug kinetics. While GH and Prl were not changed after citalopram Cort levels increased as compared to the placebo condition, significantly about 2 h after drug intake. Results will be discussed in respect of the question of whether or not Prl and GH responses after treatment with i.v. applications of SSRIs reflect sertonergic involvement.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes