STUDY OBJECTIVE To determine why, despite 122 randomised controlled trials, there is no consensus about whether the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or tricyclic and related antidepressants should be used as first line treatment of depression. DESIGN Systematic review of all RCTs comparing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic or heterocyclic antidepressants. MAIN RES...

A method for the assembly of tricyclic structures containing the peroxide, monoperoxyacetal, and acetal moieties was developed based on the acid-catalyzed reaction of β,δ-triketones with H(2)O(2). Tricyclic compounds are formed selectively in yields from 39% to 90% by the reactions with the use of large amounts of strong acids, such as H(2)SO(4), HClO(4), or HBF(4), which act both as the cataly...

OBJECTIVES To examine the incidence of suicides due to co-proxamol compared with tricyclic antidepressants and paracetamol, and to compare fatality rates for self poisonings with these drugs. DESIGN Analysis of routinely collected national and local data on suicides and self poisonings. SETTING Records of suicides in England and Wales 1997-9; non-fatal self poisonings in Oxford District 199...

The organic anion transporting polypeptide 1A2 (OATP1A2), a membrane drug transporter expressed on important organs (such as the brain, kidney, and intestine) may be a key element in the disposition of drugs. Previous studies demonstrated that it could transport a broad spectrum of substrates, including endogenous molecules and clinically relevant drugs, such as several β-blockers and 3-hydroxy...

ackground: The use of antidepressants during pregnancy continues to garner considerable attention, though there are limited nvestigations that have sought to quantify fetal exposure. ethods: Maternal and umbilical cord sera were collected at delivery from ten women taking nortriptyline and seven taking lomipramine. Placental passage was calculated as the ratio of umbilical cord to maternal seru...