This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 0269881106075274v1 21/5/545    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Chamberlain, S. R. Articles by Sahakian, B. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chamberlain, S. R. Articles by Sahakian, B. J. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB CITALOPRAM HYDROBROMIDE HYDROCORTISONE Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Atomoxetine increases salivary cortisol in healthy volunteers

Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK. Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, src33{at}cam.ac.uk

Ulrich Müller

Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK. Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

Sarah Cleary

Department of Anatomy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

Trevor W. Robbins

Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

Barbara J. Sahakian

Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK. Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

It has been proposed that acute hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis challenge using noradrenergic drugs may be of utility in assessing the functional integrity of central noradrenaline pathways. Atomoxetine (formerly tomoxetine) is a highly selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, which has recently been licensed for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of acute atomoxetine on salivary cortisol levels for the first time.

A total of 60 healthy male volunteers received 60 mg atomoxetine, 30 mg citalopram, or placebo per os in a double-blind parallel groups design (n = 20 per group). Salivary cortisol, blood pressure and pulse rates were recorded at baseline and at +1.0, +1.5, +2.5 and +3.5 hours after capsule administration.

60 mg atomoxetine led to highly significant increases in salivary cortisol and a moderate increase in pulse rate, in the absence of significant effects on blood pressure. 30 mg citalopram had no significant effects on cortisol or cardiovascular parameters.

These data support the utility of atomoxetine neuroendocrine chalenge for evaluating central noradrenaline pathways, which may be of future use in neuropsychiatric patient studies. Furthermore, the effects of atomoxetine on HPA axis function may have clinical implications given the use of this agent in the treatment of ADHD.

Key Words: ADHD • hyperactivity • impulsivity • neuroendocrine • HPA • noradrenaline • depression

This version was published on July 1, 2007

Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 21, No. 5, 545-549 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0269881106075274


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?