Effects of calcium channel blocker, nifedipine, on antidepressant activity of fl uvoxamine, venlafaxine and tianeptine in mice.
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Date
2015-01
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Abstract
Background: Cardiovascular diseases are commonly associated with depression.
Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) form commonly used group of drugs for the
treatment of a number of cardiovascular diseases. Nifedipine, a CCB, has been shown
to possess antidepressant activity and potentiate antidepressant activity of imipramine
and sertraline, however, literature on its interaction with newer antidepressant drugs
such as fl uvoxamine, venlafaxine and tianeptine is limited. Hence, the present study
was undertaken.
Methods: The study was carried out in albino mice in two phases. In Phase I,
antidepressant activity of nifedipine, fl uvoxamine, venlafaxine and tianeptine were
confi rmed after their single dose administration using forced swim test (FST) and
tail suspension test (TST) and their minimum antidepressant doses were determined.
In Phase II, the effect of nifedipine on antidepressant activity of fl uvoxamine,
venlafaxine and tianeptine was studied by orally administering sub-antidepressant
doses of these drugs for 28 days. FST and TST were carried out on 1st, 14th and
28th day of the study and change in immobility period was observed.
Results: In Phase I, all the studied drugs exhibited dose dependent antidepressant
activity in both FST and TST. Minimal antidepressant dose of nifedipine, fl uvoxamine,
venlafaxine and tianeptine was observed as 10, 25, 25 and 10 mg/kg respectively.
In Phase II, combinations of sub-antidepressant dose of nifedipine (5 mg/kg) with
sub-antidepressant doses of fl uvoxamine (12.5 mg/kg), venlafaxine (12.5 mg/kg)
and tianeptine (5 mg/kg) exhibited enhanced antidepressant activity when compared
to the control group and individual drug groups after same duration of treatment.
Conclusions: Nifedipine, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine and tianeptine possess
antidepressant activity and nifedipine exhibits synergistic antidepressant activity
with fl uvoxamine, venlafaxine and tianeptine.
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Keywords
Antidepressant, Fluvoxamine, Nifedipine, Tianeptine, Venlafaxine
Citation
Sharma Ashok K, Khadka Anjan, Dahiya Navdeep. Effects of calcium channel blocker, nifedipine, on antidepressant activity of fl uvoxamine, venlafaxine and tianeptine in mice. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology. 2015 Jan-Feb; 4(1):82-88.