PAROXETINE TREATMENT AND THE PROLACTIN RESPONSE TO SUMATRIPTAN

We studied the effect of the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor ( SSRI), paroxetine (20 mg daily for 16 days) on the neuroendocrine, car diovascular, thermic and subjective responses to the 5-HT1D receptor a gonist, sumatriptan (6 mg, SC). Compared to placebo injection, sumatri ptan lowered plasma prolactin and oral temperature and increased diast olic blood pressure. While paroxetine increased baseline prolactin con centration, it had no effect on any of the responses to sumatriptan. I n addition, paroxetine did not alter concentrations of sumatriptan in plasma. No adverse reactions resulted from the combination of sumatrip tan and paroxetine. Our findings suggest that combined treatment with sumatriptan and paroxetine in the doses used in this study is not nece ssarily contra-indicated. In addition, short-term SSRI treatment may n ot desensitise 5-HT1D autoreceptors in humans.