Diazepam alters brain 5-HT function in man: implications for the acute and chronic effects of benzodiazepines
- 1 February 1987
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Psychological Medicine
- Vol. 17 (3), 601-607
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291700025848
Abstract
Synopsis The effect of diazepam on brain 5-HT-mediated neuroendocrine responses was studied in healthy male volunteers. An acute dose of diazepam (15 mg) significantly attenuated the prolactin and growth hormone responses to intravenous L-tryptophan. After 3 weeks administration of diazepam (25 mg/d) these responses had returned to normal despite much higher plasma diazepam concentrations, suggesting that tolerance had occurred. A reduction in brain 5-HT function may underlie some of the acute therapeutic actions of benzodiazepines. It is possible that excessive ‘rebound’ 5-HT activity may contribute to the abstinence syndrome seen on benzodiazepine withdrawal.Keywords
This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit:
- Clomipramine enhances prolactin and growth hormone responses to l-tryptophanPsychopharmacology, 1986
- Benzodiazepines reduce the tolerance to reward delay in ratsPsychopharmacology, 1985
- Responses of prolactin and growth hormone to L-tryptophan infusion: Effects in normal subjects and schizophrenic patients receiving neurolepticsPsychopharmacology, 1985
- The effect of intravenous L-tryptophan on prolactin and growth hormone and mood in healthy subjectsPsychopharmacology, 1982
- Rank Transformations as a Bridge Between Parametric and Nonparametric StatisticsThe American Statistician, 1981
- Rapid recovery from massive diazepam overdoseJAMA, 1978
- Evidence for the role of brain norepinephrine and dopamine in “rebound” phenomenon seen during withdrawal after repeated exposure to benzodiazepinesJournal of Psychiatric Research, 1977
- Minor tranquillizers, stress and central catecholamine neuronsBrain Research, 1971
- The effect of chlordiazepoxide, diazepam and nitrazepam on catecholamine metabolism in regions of the rat brainEuropean Journal of Pharmacology, 1969
- Drug- and Placebo-Treated Neurotic OutpatientsArchives of General Psychiatry, 1967