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Alec Coppen, MD, DPM; Peter C. Whybrow, MB, DPM; R. Noguera, MD, DPM; Ronald Maggs, MD; Arthur J. Prange, Jr.

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1972;26(3):234-241.

Abstract
In a trial lasting four weeks patients responded equally well to imipramine (150 mg daily) or to L-tryptophan (9 gm daily). Patients who received a small dose of L-triiodothyronine (T₃, liothyronine sodium (25µg daily for the first two weeks of treatment) in addition to imipramine showed a significantly better therapeutic response than patients who received either imipramine or tryptophan alone. Liothyronine did not enhance the therapeutic response to L-tryptophan. None of the treatments tested seemed to benefit any particular symptom of depression differenntially. In particular, L-tryptophan had no specific effect on the sleep deficit of the syndrome. Liothyronine appeared to diminish the side effects of both imipramine and L-tryptophan in both men and women.

Author Affiliations
Epsom, England; Hanover, NH; Epsom, England; Hailsham, England; Chapel Hill, NC

From the Medical Research Council Clinical Investigation Unit, Greenbank, West Park Hospital, Epsom, England (Drs. Coppen and Noguera); the Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH (Dr. Whybrow); Hellingly Hospital, Hailsham, England (Dr. Maggs); and the Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Medical School, Chapel Hill (Dr. Prange).;

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Aug 21, 1971.

Read in part before the Seventh Congress of the Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum, Prague, Aug 13, 1970. Reprint requests to Medical Research Council Clinical Investigation Ward, Greenbank, West Park Hospital, Epsom, Surrey, England (Dr. Coppen).

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