[Medicinal Complex Therapy - Drug Interaction of Valproate and Dipyrone].

The clinical relevance of the drug interaction between valproic acid and dipyrone is presented in the context of a gerontopsychiatric case. It is assumed that dipyrone at a dose of 4 g/d has a relevant influence on the valproate level and the associated clinical outcome. This may be due to a possible induction of CYP2B6 and increased valproate metabolism.

Cardio-respiratory coupling in untreated patients with major depression.

Background: Depressive disorders are known to be associated with higher risks of cardiovascular diseases. Several studies have reported an imbalance within the autonomic nervous system (ANS) as one putative cause. Previous investigations showed decreased cardio-respiratory coupling in depressive patients that were treated with nortriptyline.

Increased cold-pain thresholds in major depression.

Unlabelled: Most previous studies indicated that patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) showed a decreased sensitivity for external or skin surface pain, eg, for heat or electrical stimuli, as compared to healthy controls. Here, we investigated cold-pain thresholds in 20 unmedicated patients suffering from MDD and 20 matched controls. We applied the ascending method of limits which has previously been used for heat-pain assessment in patients with depression.

Gastric dysmotility in major depression.

Background: Somatic symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract occur frequently in major depressive disorder (MDD) and might be associated with the known autonomic imbalance in the disease. Hence, we have investigated gastric electrical activity in patients suffering from major depression before and after treatment by means of electrogastrography (EGG) to investigate a putative association with either the disease state and its symptoms or its relation to the treatment.

Methods: EGG readings before and after ingestion of a test meal of 27 patients suffering from major depression were recorded before and after treatment with antidepressants and compared with age-matched controls.