Neuroendocrinological and clinical data upon trazodone treatment in depressed patients

Prolactin and somatotropin secretory rhythmicity was studied in 7 inhibited depression male patients, evaluated by the Hamilton Rating Scale for depression, before and after trazodone (400 mg i.v. once daily) treatment. The mean 24-hour hormone levels of the patients were comparable to the controls. Trazodone enhances the prolactin value, increasing chiefly the titres during sleep which were lower in respect to controls before treatment. The drug decreases the mean 24-hour somatotropin levels, mainly the values during sleep. A serotoninergic effect is possibly involved. An improvement of mood has been observed in all cases.