This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nagayama, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nagayama, H. Related Collections Pharmacology Sleep and Biological Rhythms Reviews

Influences of Biological Rhythms on the Effects of Psychotropic Drugs

From the Department of Neuropsychiatry, Oita Medical University, Oita, Japan.

Address reprint requests to: Haruo Nagayama, MD, PhD, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Oita Medical University, Hasama-machi, Oita-gun, Oita 879-5593, Japan. Email: nagayama{at}Oita-med.ac.jp

The efficacy of psychotropic drugs varies depending on the time of administration. This phenomenon is observed with antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and psychostimulants. The presence or absence of this phenomenon and the rhythm phase in the efficacy of each drug varies depending on the drug, dose, parameter measured, animal species, and strain. A recent study demonstrating circannual changes in the phases of circadian rhythm of drug efficacy suggests that discrepancies between studies may be considerably explained by the presence of a circannual rhythm. The rhythms in drug effects are suggested not to be due to rhythmic changes in the pharmacokinetics of the drugs but rather to an endogenous rhythm in drug susceptibility resulting from a circadian rhythm in the intracerebral neurotransmission system. The presence of this phenomenon and its law have been demonstrated to a considerable extent in animals, but corresponding clinical reports in humans remain insufficient despite its clinical importance. Further study in humans is certainly warranted.

Key Words: psychotropic drug • circadian rhythm • chronopharmacology • biological rhythm • neurotransmitter • receptor

Abbreviations: DOI = 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl-2-aminopropane hydrochloride; GABA = -aminobutyric acid; 5-HIAA = 5-hydroxyindole aceticacid; 5-HT = serotonin; 5-MeODMT =5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyotryptamine; 8-OH-DPAT =8-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetralin.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				O. G. Cameron Psychopharmacology Psychosom Med, September 1, 1999; 61(5): 585 - 590. [Full Text] [PDF]