THE SEROTONIN UPTAKE-ENHANCING DRUG TIANEPTINE SUPPRESSES ASTHMATIC SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN - A DOUBLE-BLIND, CROSSOVER, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

Studies have shown that levels of free serotonin in plasma are increas ed in symptomatic patients with asthma. In addition, the concentration of free serotonin in symptomatic patients with asthma correlates posi tively with clinical status and negatively with pulmonary function. Th us, reducing the concentration of free serotonin in plasma might be us eful in treating patients with asthma. We studied the effectiveness of tianeptine in treating patients with asthma. Tianeptine is the only d rug known to be able to reduce levels of free serotonin in plasma and to enhance uptake by platelets. In this study, 69 children with asthma were assigned in randomized fashion to receive tianeptine and/or plac ebo in a double-blind crossover trial that lasted 52 weeks. Tianeptine provoked a dramatic and sudden decrease in both clinical rating and f ree serotonin plasma levels and on increase in pulmonary function.