Pharmacopsychiatry 2003; 36 - 225
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-825468

Contribution of the CYP2D6 genotype to the occurrence of side-effects and of therapeutic failure during treatment with CYP2D6-dependent antidepressants

T Rau 1, 3, G Wohlleben 1, H Wuttke 1, 3, N Thürauf 2, T Eschenhagen 3
  • 1Department of Pharmacology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg
  • 2Department of Psychiatry, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg
  • 3Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Hamburg, Germany

Several antidepressants (AD) are metabolized by CYP2D6. This retrospective study addressed whether the CYP2D6-genotype contributes to the occurrence of side effects or a lack of therapeutic efficacy upon treatment with CYP2D6-dependent AD.

Of 28 patients with marked adverse effects during treatment with an AD, 8 (29%) patients had a poor-metabolizer genotype (4-fold increase vs. the German population; p<0.0001). Duplication of functional alleles (linked to ultrarapid metabolism) was found in 4 (25%) of the 16 non-responders (7.0-fold increase vs. the population; p<0.001).

The CYP2D6-genotype contributes to the occurrence of adverse effects and clinical non-response in patients treated with CYP2D6-dependent antidepressants.