NEUROPHARMACOLOGIC TREATMENT OF BRONCHIAL-ASTHMA WITH THE ANTIDEPRESSANT TIANEPTINE - A DOUBLE-BLIND, CROSSOVER PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

Studies have shown the levels of free serotonin in plasma are increase d in symptomatic patients with asthma, In addition, the concentration of free serotonin in symptomatic children with asthma correlates posit ively with clinical status and negatively with pulmonary function (for ced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]). Thus, reducing the concentr ation of free serotonin in plasma may be useful in treating children w ith asthma, We studied the effectiveness of tianeptine in treating the se patients, Tianeptine is the only drug known to be able to reduce th e level of free serotonin in plasma and to enhance the uptake by plate lets, Sixty-nine of the 82 children with asthma initially enrolled par ticipated in this study. Children were randomized to receive tianeptin e or placebo or both in a double-blind crossover trial. The trial last ed 52 weeks, Tianeptine provoked a dramatic and sudden decrease of bot h clinical rating and free serotonin plasma levels and an increase in pulmonary function.