Assessment of the relationship between plasma nortriptyline concentration and inhibition of salivation: Single-dose study

Abstract

In order to evaluate the relationship between plasma nortriptyline concentration and anticholinergic effect, a single blind cross-over study of nortriptyline was performed. Seventeen healthy male volunteers were given single doses of nortriptyline (25, 50, and 75 mg) and placebo in a cross-over manner. Plasma nortriptyline concentration was measured by high performance liquid chromatography and spontaneous salivation flow was measured. Peak plasma levels of nortriptyline were attained at about 5 hours after drug administration. The corresponding area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC) from zero-time to 12 hours after the respective dose of 25 mg, 50 mg and 75 mg nortriptyline were 87.1 ± 32.8 ng ml