1971/07/01 by Russell Meares, R. A. Meares, Jennifer E. Mills +6 · 2 citations
Medicine · #Asthma and respiratory diseases #Respiratory and Cough-Related Research
paper · doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.1971.tb50396.x
In eight asthmatics, amitriptyline produced clinical improvement and reduction in use of other anti-asthma medication. In another series of 12 asthmatics, the FEV, was increased by a mean of 17% after an intramuscular injection of 25 mg of amitriptyline. In guinea-pigs, amitriptyline counteracted the bronchoconstrictor actions of histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and acetylcholine. It was more potent than imipramine or desmethyl- imipramlne. It is suggested that amitriptyline may prove of use in the treatment of asthma. Its effect is probably not due to an antidepressant action; it may be due to antagonism of bronchoconstrictor substances.