The effect of PK5078, a new serotonin uptake inhibitor, on serotonin levels and uptake in human platelets, following administration to healthy volunteers.

PK 5078 is a recently developed compound which inhibits specifically the neuronal reuptake of serotonin and enhance its release. PK 5078 was administered to healthy male volunteers in single and multiple oral doses and the effects on platelet serotonin uptake and content were examined. A significant dose-related inhibition of 3H-serotonin uptake by platelets was observed following single oral doses of PK 5078 (25-150 mg), with maximal inhibition at 75 mg. This was evident 2 h after dosing and was still marked after 10 h. Plasma collected from the subjects after dosing also had a considerable dose-related effect on the uptake of 3H-serotonin by untreated platelets. No significant alteration in platelet serotonin content was observed after single doses of PK 5078. When PK 5078 (50 mg) was administered twice daily for 9 days there was a rapid and sustained reduction in 3H-serotonin uptake by platelets, which returned to pretreatment levels 2 days after discontinuation of the drug. A similar response was observed when plasma from these subjects was incubated with untreated platelets. The rate of depletion of endogenous platelet serotonin was much slower with minimum levels being attained on the morning after the final dose. The recovery following withdrawal was also slow with serotonin levels approaching pre-dose values 14 days after the final dose of PK 5078.