Clomipramina no tratamento da perseguição compulsiva da cauda em Bull Terrier - relato de caso / Clomipramine in the treatment of compulsive tail pursuit in bull terrier - case report

A perseguição compulsiva da cauda consiste em um distúrbio caracterizado por movimentos giratórios em círculos, lentos a rápidos com ou sem foco na cauda. É uma desordem comportamental comumente observada em cães da raça Bull Terrier, sendo mais frequente em machos, com início entre três e seis meses de idade. O diagnóstico é realizado com base no histórico do paciente junto com exames físico, neurológico e laboratoriais. O tratamento pode ser feito por meio do manejo ambiental e da retirada de fatores estressantes aliados a medicamentos antidepressivos. O objetivo deste artigo é relatar o caso de um Bull Terrier que apresentava perseguição compulsiva da cauda e teve evidente melhora clínica 75 dias após início do tratamento com clomipramina. A melhora foi ainda maior após a orquiectomia. A clomipramina consiste em um antidepressivo tricíclico promissor no tratamento de perseguição compulsiva da cauda em cães, devendo-se associar alteração no manejo ambiental e evitar gatilhos que induzam frustração, ansiedade e conflito.(AU)

The compulsive pursuit of the tail is characterized by a rotating movement in circles, slow to fast with or without focus on the tail. It is a disorder commonly observed in bull terrier dogs, being more frequent in males, beginning between 3 and 6 months of age. Diagnosis can be made based on patient history along with physical, neurological, and laboratory tests. Treatment can be done through environmental management and withdrawal of stressors allied with antidepressant drugs. The objective of this article is to report the case of a Bull Terrier that had compulsive pursuit of the tail and had evident clinical improvement 75 days after starting treatment with clomipramine. The improvement was even greater after orchiectomy. Clomipramine is the promising tricyclic antidepressant in the treatment of compulsive tail chasing in dogs. It should be associated with changes in environmental management and avoid triggers that induce frustration, anxiety and conflict.(AU)

The neonatal treatment with clomipramine decreases sexual motivation and increases estrogen receptors expression in the septum of male rats: Effects of the apomorphine.

Administering clomipramine during the early days of life induced several behavioral and neurochemical alterations in adult male rats, which resemble major depression disorder. The alterations included poor sexual performance, which is considered a reward-seeking behavior regulated by dopaminergic system. Given that estrogen receptors are expressed in different areas of the brain involved in regulating reproductive behavior, motivation and mood. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of a non-selective dopamine agonist (apomorphine) on sexual incentive motivation in rats exposed to clomipramine (CMI) in the neonatal period. In addition, we evaluated the expression of mRNA ERα and ERß in nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and septum of CMI rats. We found that only a few rats subjected to neonatal CMI treatment performed mounts, intromissions and ejaculations. Also, those rats spent less time exploring the sexual incentive zone and had lower preference scores; this effect was reverted by administering 0.1 mg/kg of apomorphine. Finally, the CMI rats presented higher levels of mRNA ERα and ERß, only in septum area. These data indicate that neonatal treatment with CMI altered the expression of mRNA ERα and ERß in the septum, which participates in regulating the motivational component of sexual behavior.

Modulating cellular autophagy for controlled antiretroviral drug release.

AIM: Pharmacologic agents that affect autophagy were tested for their abilities to enhance macrophage nanoformulated antiretroviral drug (ARV) depots and its slow release. METHODS: These agents included URMC-099, rapamycin, metformin, desmethylclomipramine, 2-hydroxy-ß-cyclodextrin (HBC) and clonidine. Each was administered with nanoformulated atazanavir (ATV) nanoparticles to human monocyte-derived macrophages. ARV retention, antiretroviral activity and nanocrystal autophagosomal formation were evaluated. RESULTS: URMC-099, HBC and clonidine retained ATV. HBC, URMC-099 and rapamycin improved intracellular ATV retention. URMC-099 proved superior among the group in affecting antiretroviral activities. CONCLUSION: Autophagy inducing agents, notably URMC-099, facilitate nanoformulated ARV depots and lead to sustained release and improved antiretroviral responses. As such, they may be considered for development as part of long acting antiretroviral treatment regimens.

Chronic treatment with estradiol restores depressive-like behaviors in female Wistar rats treated neonatally with clomipramine.

Neonatal administration of clomipramine (CMI) induces diverse behavioral and neurochemical alterations in adult male rats that resemble major depression disorder. However, the possible behavioral alterations in adult female rats subjected to neonatal treatment with clomipramine are unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the effect of neonatal treatment with CMI on adult female rats in relation to locomotion and behavioral despair during the estrus cycle. Also evaluated was the effect of chronic treatment with E2 on these female CMI rats. We found no effects on spontaneous locomotor activity due to neonatal treatment with CMI, or after 21days of E2 administration. In the FST, neonatal treatment with CMI increased immobility and decreased active swimming and climbing behaviors. Influence of the ovarian cycle was detected only in relation to climbing behavior, as the rats in the MD phase displayed less climbing activity. Chronic E2 administration decreased immobility but increased only swimming in CMI rats. These results suggest that neonatal treatment with CMI induces despair-like behavior in female rats, but that chronic E2 administration generates antidepressant-like behavior by decreasing immobility and increasing swimming, perhaps through interaction with the serotonergic system.

Análisis de costo-efectividad de escitalopram comparado con paroxetina, fluoxetina, sertralina, fluvoxamina y clomipramina como terapia de mantenimiento para pacientes con trastorno obsesivo compulsivo en Colombia / Cost-effectiveness analysis of escitalopram compared to paroxetine, fluoxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine and clomipramine as maintenance therapy for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder in Colombia

Problema de investigación: Analizar los costos y la efectividad del escitalopram comparado con paroxetina, sertralina, fluoxetina, fluvoxamina y clomipramina como terapia de mantenimiento de primera línea en pacientes con trastorno obsesivo compulsivo en Colombia. Tipo de evaluación económica: Análisis de costo-efectividad. Población objetivo: Pacientes mayores de 18 años con diagnóstico de trastorno obsesivo compulsivo. Intervención y comparadores: Comparadores: paroxetina, sertralina, fluoxetina, fluvoxamina y clomipramina. Horizonte temporal: 32 semanas. Perspectiva: Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (SGSSS). Tasa de descuento: No aplica. Estructura del modelo: Árbol de decisión. Fuentes de datos de efectividad y seguridad: Reporte de efectividad y seguridad, Ensayos clínicos aleatorios. Desenlaces y valoración: Años de vida ajustados por calidad (AVAC). Costos incluidos: Costo de los medicamentos, Costo de procedimientos, Costo de los eventos adversos. Fuentes de datos de costos: SISMED, Manual tarifario ISS 2001. Resultados del caso base: En el escenario del caso base, fluvoxamina, fluoxetina, paroxetina y clomipramina son dominados por sertralina y escitalopram. El costo por AVAC es $16.084.456 de escitalopram comparado con sertralina. Análisis de sensibilidad: Los análisis de sensibilidad y el diagrama de tornado mostraron que las variables con mayor impacto sobre las estimaciones de costo-efectividad del escitalopram son la probabilidad de respuesta y retiro por eventos adversos del medicamento sertralina. Conclusiones y discusión: Escitalopram parece ofrecer una mejor relación entre costos y efectividad respecto a sus comparadores. La principal limitación de este estudio se centra en la ausencia de ensayos clínicos de no inferioridad con un horizonte de largo plazo. La principal limitación de este estudio se centra en la ausencia de ensayos clínicos de no inferioridad con un horizonte de largo plazo.(AU)

Efectividad y seguridad del escitalopram comparado paroxetina fluvoxamina, clomipramina para pacientes mayores de 16 años con diagnóstico de Trastorno Obsesivo Compulsivo / Effectiveness and safety of escitalopram compared to paroxetine fluvoxamine, clomipramine for patients over 16 years of age with a diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Introducción: se estima que la prevalencia del Trastorno Obsesivo Compulsivo (TOC) en la población general es de 1.6% (1), siendo uno de los principales trastornos que afecta a niños y adolescentes. Estudios realizados en Colombia muestran mayor incidencia de este trastorno en las mujeres con respecto a los hombres, evidenciándose una fuerte relación con episodios psicóticos y otros tipos de trastornos como la esquizofrenia. Objetivo: esta evaluación de tecnología tiene como objetivo examinar los beneficios y riesgos del uso del Escitalopram en el Trastorno Obsesivo Compulsivo, como uno de los criterios para informar la toma de decisiones relacionada con la posible inclusión de tecnologías en el Plan Obligatorio de Salud, en el marco de su actualización integral para el año 2015. Metodología: a partir de la pregunta PICO se establecieron los criterios de elegibilidad para la realización de la búsqueda de la evidencia científica (ensayos clínicos, revisiones sistemáticas de estudios observacionales y estudios de cohortes analíticas). Se realizó la tamización y selección de la evidencia evaluando su calidad y posteriormente se realizó la extracción de datos y la síntesis de la evidencia. Resultados: Se identificaron dos experimentos clínicos con asignación aleatoria, controlados por placebo, para evaluar la efectividad y tolerabilidad del Escitalopram en el manejo del TOC, sin embargo, ambos estudios se encontraban fuera del rango de fechas establecidas para la búsqueda de la literatura, por lo que no fueron considerados para la elaboración del presente informe. Uno de los experimentos clínicos realizado con Escitalopram fue incorporado en una revisión sistemática y un meta-análisis más recientes. El propósito del meta-análisis fue evaluar la relación dosis-respuesta de los Inhibidores Selectivos de la Recaptación de la Serotonina con la tasa de mejoría de los pacientes medido como el cambio promedio en la escala Y-BOC. Los resultados sugieren que altas dosis de ISRS son más efectivas para el tratamiento de esta enfermedad (F = 10,8, df = 3, P <0,001). Asimismo, no hubo una tendencia significativa en términos de la proporción de abandonos relacionadas a la dosis del ISRS (X2 = 1,6, df = 1, p = 0,20). Ninguna de las diferentes categorías de dosis de ISRS difería de placebo, o entre sí, en términos de la proporción de causas abandonos de la terapia. Conclusiones: los pocos experimentos clínicos ejecutados a la fecha en el TOC, están focalizados en demostrar la efectividad de los Inhibidores Selectivos de la Recaptación de la Serotonina como un grupo, por lo que no se ha acumulado un cuerpo de evidencia suficiente para establecer le efectividad de cada uno de estos medicamentos de manera más específica. Varios estudios se han ejecutado para investigar algunos aspectos más generales de los ISRS, como por ejemplo la utilidad de emplear estos medicamentos a altas dosis para mejorar el índice de respuesta de los pacientes a estos tratamientos. En dos experimentos clínicos registrados hasta la fecha, el Escitalopram mostró ser más efectivo en comparación con el placebo en el tratamiento del TOC, además de ser bien tolerado por los sujetos durante terapias de largo término.(AU)

Association of clomipramine and allopurinol for the treatment of the experimental infection with Trypanosoma cruzi.

We have previously shown that clomipramine and allopurinol used separately are effective in preventing chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the association of clomipramine (Clo--5 mg/kg/day/90 days) and allopurinol (Allo--5, 10, or 15 mg/kg/day/90 days) for the treatment of experimental Chagas disease in the acute stage. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated through parasitemia, survival, electrocardiography, serology, and cardiac histopathology. Groups treated showed no electrocardiographic abnormalities, in contrast to those untreated which presented 25% of mice with conduction alterations. The myocardium of treated mice (Clo, Allo10+Clo, and Allo15+Clo) presented no structural alterations. Cardiac b-receptor affinity was preserved in mice treated with Clo or Clo+Allo at the different doses; receptor density of the Clo and Allo15+Clo groups did not differ from the non-infected group. Anti-cruzipain antibody levels were similar in treated and untreated groups. Survival was significantly increased in the treated groups (p < 0.05), with Clo and all the Clo+Allo groups presenting the highest rates. These results show that the association of clomipramine + allopurinol is effective for Chagas disease treatment and has the same effect as clomipramine alone.

The beta3 adrenoceptor agonist, amibegron (SR58611A) counteracts stress-induced behavioral and neurochemical changes.

These experiments were made to study the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant-like effects of the beta(3) adrenoceptor agonist amibegron (SR58611A). To this purpose, the expression levels of the hippocampal cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-response element binding protein (CREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bax proteins were assessed, by using western blot analysis, in rats tested in the forced swim test (FST). Under basal conditions (no previous exposure to stressors), different groups of male Wistar rats received acutely or repeatedly (once/day for 7days) intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of amibegron (1, 5 and 10mg/kg), the tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) clomipramine (50mg/kg), the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram (15mg/kg) or their vehicles. The influence of stress-related conditions was studied in rats subjected to acute (4h) or repeated (4h/day for 7days) restraint stress, applied prior to the FST procedure. Compared to the control groups, both stressor procedures increased the immobility time in the FST and reduced hippocampal BDNF and Bcl-2/Bax ratio proteins expression, which were counteracted by amibegron (5 and 10mg/kg) treatment. Opposite effects were found in the CREB expression, since it was lower after acute and higher after repeated stress procedure, respectively. Again, these effects were reversed by amibegron treatment. Different results were obtained in animals treated with clomipramine or citalopram. Hence, it is likely that the observed behavioral effects of amibegron could be due, at least in part, to its action on hippocampal expression of neurotrophic and/or anti-apoptotic factors, supporting the hypothesis that beta(3) adrenoceptors may be a therapeutic target for the treatment of stress-related disorders.

Regional distribution of clomipramine and desmethylclomipramine in rat brain and peripheral organs on chronic clomipramine administration.

The tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) clomipramine has been widely used in psychiatry for over 40 years. More recently, its therapeutic potential as an antineoplastic drug has been identified. However, there are no prior data on regional distribution in the brain of clomipramine and its primary metabolite (desmethylclomipramine) after chronic oral administration. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of clomipramine and desmethylclomipramine in different rat-brain regions and to compare those with levels in plasma and peripheral organs after chronic oral treatment of Sprague Dawley rats (15 mg/kg) for 14 days. The levels of both parent TCA and metabolite were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography in six brain regions (cortex, hypothalamus, hippocampus, striatum, brainstem and cerebellum), five peripheral organs and in plasma. Our data show that the cerebral cortex had the highest concentration of clomipramine (2.9 microg/mg), with successively lower concentrations in the hypothalamus, striatum, cerebellum, hippocampus and brainstem. Of the peripheral organs, the lungs and liver, had the highest levels of clomipramine, while in the heart, only the metabolite was detected. The plasma concentration (0.17 microg/ml or 0.48 microM) was comparable to that in the hippocampus and cerebellum (approximately 0.20 microg/mg). The differential distribution of clomipramine in different brain regions and the regional variation in clomipramine to desmethylclomipramine ratios have implications for the use of clomipramine in psychiatry and neuro-oncology.

Chronic antidepressant treatment exerts sexually dimorphic immunomodulatory effects in an experimental model of major depression: do females lack an advantage?

Major depression is a stress-related disorder that affects about 20% of the population, with women outnumbering men by 2:1. However, research focusing on stress/antidepressant-related immunomodulation overlooks sex differences, although an established sexual dimorphism also characterizes the immune system. We report for the first time that both chronic clomipramine treatment (10 mg/kg, twice daily) and chronic mild stress (CMS) application in rats, exert sexually dimorphic effects on cellular immunoreactivity (natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer cell cytotoxicity and interleukin-2-induced T-cell proliferation), with females presenting a relatively immunosuppressed phenotype compared to males. Moreover, following chronic antidepressant treatment, thymic monoamines presented sex-related alterations, as well as intriguing associations with peripheral T-cell responses. This study highlights the sex-related effects of chronic clomipramine treatment and CMS application on the cellular arm of immunity, and represents a preliminary exposé of a thymus-dependent route pertaining to the interactions between antidepressants and the immune system.

Recurrent vasovagal syncope: comparison between clomipramine and nitroglycerin as drug challenges during head-up tilt testing.

AIMS: To compare the responses between clomipramine, a centrally acting substance, and nitroglycerin, with mainly peripheral action, when each drug is used during tilt test for the induction of vasovagal syncope (VVS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Hundred patients with recurrent episodes of classical VVS underwent two tilt tests in a randomized sequence. One test included 20 min of tilt at 60 degrees with intravenous administration of 5 mg clomipramine (clomipramine tilt), whereas the other test included an initial 30 min period of passive 60 degrees tilt, followed by sublingual spray administration of 400 microg nitroglycerin (nitroglycerin tilt). Fifty asymptomatic subjects served as controls. Following clomipramine tilt, a positive response occurred in 73 patients (73%), a negative response in 23 (23%), and drug intolerance in 4 (4%). With nitroglycerin tilt, these percentages were 52, 48, and 0%, respectively. Significant differences were observed regarding positive responses (clomipramine vs. nitroglycerin: 73/100 vs. 52/100, P < 0.05), as well as negative responses (23/100 vs. 48/100, respectively, P < 0.05). A high concordance rate was observed in positive responses. CONCLUSION: In the evaluation of patients with recurrent classical VVS, clomipramine tilt is associated with an increased positive yield relative to nitroglycerin tilt. This suggests that central mechanisms may be more important than peripheral ones in VVS pathogenesis.

La insulinoterapia intensificada más antineuríticos es superior a antineurítico puro en neuropatía diabética dolorosa / Intensified insulin therapy plus antineuritic medication is more effective than antineuritics alone in painful diabetic neuropathy

Background: The basis of the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy is the use of drugs that block the transmission of pain (antineuritics) and a good metabolic control of underlying disease. Aim: To describe the outcomes of 17 type-2 diabetics with painful neuropathy, treated between 1988 and 2005 with symptomatic therapy plus intensified insulin. Material and methods: Review of medical records of 17 type-2 diabetic patients, aged 63±11 years and a duration of diabetes of 15±8 years. All patients received intensified insulin therapy with 0.35 units/kg of NPH insulin (2/3 before breakfast and 1/3 evening meal), plus capillary glucose measurements and regular insulin (with sliding-scale centered in ~0.1 units/kg) before the 3 main meals. All patients were also treated with gabapentin, nortriptyline or clomipramine. Pain was assessed using a visual analog score of 10 points. Results: After 1 year, glycosilated hemoglobin decreased from 10.0±1.4 percent to 7.7±1.2 percent (p~=0.003). Pain decreased from 10 to 5.1±3.3 at one month, 2.3±3.2 at six months, and 3.1±3.6 at 1 year (p <0.01). There was a direct statistical correlation between the reduction of HbA1C and pain decline (r =0.736; p =0.037). Pain scores were lower than those reported elsewhere for Pregabalin (n =76; p =0.05), Lamotrigine (n =27; p <0.0005), Topiramate (n =208; p <0.005), and Gabapentin (n =84; p <0.025). The lack of difference to Sodium Valproate (n =21; p =0.07) had borderline significance. Conclusions: The addition of intensified insulin therapy to the symptomatic treatment of painful neuropathy in type-2 diabetics, significantly enhanced the reduction of pain. The lowering of glycosilated hemoglobin was a significant predictor of success in pain reduction.

[Therapeutic drug monitoring: A pharmacotherapeutic tool in psychiatry]. / Arzneimittelspiegel als pharmakotherapeutisches Werkzeug bei der Behandlung mit Psychopharmaka.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is used increasingly for managing psychiatric outpatients, where the preanalytic error risk is high. Blood samples must be collected under steady-state conditions immediately before ingestion of the morning dose or before the next injection. In order to interpret the plasma levels accurately, age, gender, ethnicity, compliance, drug dosage, renal and hepatic function and comedication incl. smoking habits and diet (esp. caffeine intake and consumption of grapefruit juice) have to be taken into account. If in doubt, aberrant plasma levels should be confirmed by a second control under optimized conditions. Pharmacogenetic testing enables the identification of abnormal metabolizers. TDM and pharmacogenetic tests are useful tools to improve pharmacotherapy by preventing dose-dependent adverse drug events, optimizing dosage during long-term treatment and identifying ultrarapid metabolizers and malcompliance.

Chlorimipramine: a novel anticancer agent with a mitochondrial target.

Mitochondria have been suggested to be a potential intracellular target for cancer chemotherapy. In this report, we demonstrate the ability of the tricyclic antidepressant chlorimipramine to kill human glioma cells in vitro by a molecular mechanism resulting in an increase in caspase 3 activity following inhibition of glioma oxygen consumption. Studies with isolated rat mitochondria showed that chlorimipramine specifically inhibited mitochondrial complex III activity, which causes decreased mitochondrial membrane potential as well as mitochondrial swelling and vacuolation. The use of chlorimipramine in human as an effective, non-toxic cancer therapeutic having a strong selectivity between cancer cells and normal cells on the basis of their mitochondrial function is discussed.

Does oxidative stress contribute in tricyclic antidepressants-induced cardiotoxicity?

Different members of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were found to induce free radical and oxidative stress in vitro. Accordingly, in the present study we tried to explore the possible role of oxidative stress in TCAs-induced cardiotoxicity. Rats were given a single injection of clomipramine (45 mg/kg). The cardiotoxicity was assessed by measuring ECG parameters (heart rate and QRS widening) and serum lactate dehydrogenase activity. The oxidative stress was assessed by measuring the myocardial reduced glutathione and lipid peroxides levels as well as different antioxidant enzyme activities after 24h of drug injection. In addition, we specifically investigated whether clomipramine could induce hydroxyl radical generation in vitro. The study revealed that clomipramine-induced a significant increase in lipid peroxides level (133%) and a significant decrease in glutathione level (84%) as well as a significant decrease in the activity of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase by 64% and 73%, respectively, as compared with the control group. In addition, clomipramine at concentrations 10 microM, 25 microM, 50 microM and 100 microM increased hydroxyl radical generation by 148%, 204%, 268% and 391%, respectively. Addition of hydroxyl radical scavenger or iron chelator significantly counteracted the effect of clomipramine. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that free radical generation and oxidative stress play a role in clomipramine-induced cardiotoxicity. In addition, clomipramine can induce hydroxyl radical in vitro.

Prolonged asystole during head-up tilt testing with clomipramine infusion.

This case report describes a patient with a history of neurocardiogenic syncope, who had had a negative head-up tilt test with isoprenaline, but he experienced a prolonged asystole during a head-up tilt test with clomipramine (serotonin reuptake inhibitor) 24 h later. This patient was successfully treated with fluoxetine.