Use of alverine as antidepressant, optionally used in synergistic combination with a tricyclic antidepressant or inhibitor of serotonin reuptake

摘要

Use of alverine (I; N-ethyl-di(3-phenylpropyl)amine) or its metabolites, their salts and esters to produce an antidepressant composition. An independent claim is also included for a composition containing (I) or its metabolites, their salts and esters, and at least one tricyclic antidepressant (II) or an antidepressant (III) that inhibits specifically reuptake of serotonin, for separate, simultaneous or staged administration, for treating depression. ACTIVITY : Antidepressant. Mice were treated intraperitoneally with alverine (I; as citrate) or with 10 mg/kg imipramine (IIa), then 30 minutes later subjected to a forced swimming test. The total period of immobilization was measured during the last 4 minutes of the test and was: 129.8 s for untreated controls; 110.3 s for those given 3 mg/kg (I); 61.6 s for 10 mg/kg (I); 25.9 s for 30 mg/kg (I) and 49.4 s for 10 mg/kg (IIa). A combination of 3 mg/kg each of (I) and (II) resulted in an immobilized time of 48 s. MECHANISM OF ACTION : None given.