Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0040822 (tremor)
 18,428 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Trazodone, a non-tricyclic molecule, represents the first of a new generation of antidepressants. It is currently marketed in a number of European countries, in the United States and in Latin America. The pharmacological and biochemical data, the mechanism of action and the preferential indications of trazodone are presented and compared to those of imipramine and other tricyclics. Unlike imipramine, trazodone inhibits the adrenergic system. The two molecules have anti-nociceptive properties, similar effects on the serotoninergic system and, after repeated administrations, they both reduce the density of beta-receptors. The clinical implications of the alpha-blocking activity of trazodone are reported. Trazodone is preferable to tricyclic anti-depressants in the treatment of depression in elderly subjects in general, and especially when they present closed angle glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, tremor or cardiovascular problems due to hyperactivity of the adrenergic system, as well as in organic depressions and in depression secondary to schizophrenia, alcoholism and in patients with Parkinson's disease.
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PMID:[History and pharmacology of trazodone]. 288 Jul 11

Pharmacological and biochemical data on trazodone are reviewed in order to compare this drug to imipramine and other tricyclics both from the point of view of the mechanism of action and preferential clinical indications. Trazodone tends to inhibit biochemical and pharmacological functions depending on the catecholaminergic system, whereas imipramine has a potentiating activity. However, both these drugs decrease the density of beta-receptors following repeated administrations. Trazodone and imipramine have similar effects on the serotoninergic system. The two drugs also share an antinociceptive activity. It is stressed that this activity has been of critical importance in the discovery of trazodone. In fact, the development of this drug was based on the working hypothesis that a disturbance in the perception of unpleasant experience has a role in the pathogenesis of depression. Some medical implications of the alpha-blocking activity of trazodone are discussed. Trazodone is preferable to other antidepressant treatment when depression is associated with angle-closure glucoma, cardiovascular disturbances depending on noradrenaline release, tremor, some psychotic conditions and alcoholism.
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PMID:Trazodone, a new avenue in the treatment of depression. 614 38

Trazodone and imipramine were compared in a two-center double-blind study of moderately to severely depressed outpatients. Results for 44 patients who have completed the 12-month comparison showed superior efficacy of trazodone at endpoint on all efficacy measures. Significant differences were also seen on individual Hamilton Depression Rating Scale items, with lower anxiety scores at 5 evaluation points for the trazodone group. Clinical Global Impressions ratings also favored trazodone treatment. Anticholinergic effects and tremor were significantly more frequent in imipramine-treated patients, whereas drowsiness was more frequent with trazodone. No significant changes were seen in blood pressure or ophthalmologic exams; 2 trazodone patients and 1 imipramine patient developed slight ECG changes during therapy; these may have been age-related. Continued clinical benefit has been seen in 12 patients who have received open-label trazodone for additional periods of up to 3 years. These findings show trazodone to be clearly effective in long-term treatment of moderate to severe depression; the drug may be of particular benefit when atropine side effects pose serious problems, as in the elderly and patients with cardiovascular disorders.
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PMID:Long-term therapy for depression with trazodone. 633 31