Source: Clin Cancer Res  |  Posted 9 years ago

Sertraline therapy has different and time-dependent effects on plasma hormone level control and on prolactin and thyroid hormones in women diagnosed with depression, Croatian researchers report.

Investigators from University Hospital Centre and the Rudjer Boskovic Institute in Zagreb evaluated the effect of both four- and 24-week sertraline therapies on plasma hormone levels in 15 women being treated for major depression. They note the average dose of sertraline prescribed was 42.5 milligrams per day.

The researchers compared levels of triiodothyronine (T[_]3[]), cortisol, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxin (T[_]4[]) in patients and in 16 female controls at baseline.

The T[_]3[] levels were found to be lower in the depressed patients, while levels of cortisol, prolactin, TSH and T[_]4[] were similar at baseline.

A positive correlation was observed between patient Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale scores and baseline cortisol levels.

The investigators say four-week sertraline therapy increased plasma cortisol levels in the depressed patients. Plasma T[_]3[] levels increased when sertraline treatment was extended to 24 weeks.

Neither four- or 24-week sertraline therapy affected patient prolactin, T[_]4[] or TSH levels, however.