The Anti-inflammatory Activity of Antidepressant Drugs in Rats

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of some antidepressant drugs (the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) amitriptyline, clomipramine, imipramine, opipramol; selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) paroxetine, citalopram, fluvoxamine; the heterocyclic antidepressants (HCAs) reboxetine, mirtazapine, tianeptine and monoaminooxidase inhibitor (MAO) moclobemide) in different groups. Materials and Methods: The anti-inflammatory effect potential of antidepressant drugs was investigated and compared with indomethacin in carrageenan-induced inflammation paw-edema model of rats. Results: Indomethacin (25 mg kg-1), which was used in comparing the anti-inflammatory effects, decreased inflammation of carragenin at a range of 55.55%. Amitriptyline (10 mg kg-1), clomipramine (16 mg kg-1), imipramine (7.5 mg kg-1), opipramol (50 mg kg-1), paroxetine (20 mg kg-1), citalopram (20 mg kg-1), fluvoxamine (100 mg kg-1), reboxetine (4 mg kg-1), mirtazapine (30 mg kg-1), tianeptine (12.5 mg kg-1), and moclobemide (150 mg kg-1) reduced inflammation at a range of 49.20%, 36.51%, 8.33%, 2.42%, 7.27%, 4.17%, 13.84%, 22.84% and 15.20%, respectively. Conclusion: It was determined that clomipramine had the most potent antiinflammatory effects among these antidepressant drugs, while reboxetine and paroxetine did not have any inflammatory effects. Moreover, amitriptyline, imipramine, fluvoxamine, tianeptine and moclobemid had significant anti-inflammatory effects, but the other drugs did not have any significant anti-inflammatory effects.