Imipramine: a tricyclic antidepressant and its effect on plasma glucose, insulin and free fatty acids levels in the rabbit

ABSTRACT

A study on the effect of imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, on plasma glucose, immunoreactive insulin [IRI] and free fatty acids [FFA] levels is presented. The results show that the administration of imipramine causes a significant increase in the plasma glucose level of fasting rabbits. The increase was found to be dose dependent. The imipramine induced hyperglycaemia was associated with a significant decrease in the plasma immunoreactive insulin level. An elevation in the plasma FFA levels was evident at 10 and 30 minutes from the injection. However, at 60 minutes a rise in plasma FFA was shown with higher doses only [25 and 50 mg/kg. b.w.]. This study gives further evidence for the possible effect of antidepressants on the glucose metabolic pathways