| Item |
Information |
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Drug Groups
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withdrawn |
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Description
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Zimelidine has been banned worldwide due to serious, sometimes fatal, cases of central and/or peripheral neuropathy known as Guillain-Barré syndrome and due to a peculiar hypersensitivity reaction involving many organs including skin exanthema, flu-like symptoms, arthralgias, and sometimes eosinophilia. Additionally, zimelidine was charged to cause an increase in suicidal ideation and/or attempts among depressive patients. After its ban, it was succeeded by fluvoxamine and fluoxetine (derived from the antihistamine diphenhydramine) in that order, and the other SSRIs. |
| Indication |
For the treatment of depression. |
| Pharmacology |
Zimelidine was the first marketed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. It is a pyridylallylamine, structurally different from other antidepressants. |
| Affected Organisms |
| • |
Humans and other mammals |
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| Half Life |
8.4 +/- 2.0 hours for the parent compound and 19.4 +/- 3.6 hours for norzimelidine. |
| References |
| • |
Caille G, Kouassi E, de Montigny C: Pharmacokinetic study of zimelidine using a new GLC method. Clin Pharmacokinet. 1983 Nov-Dec;8(6):530-40.
[Pubmed]
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| • |
Godbout R, Montplaisir J: The effect of zimelidine, a serotonin-reuptake blocker, on cataplexy and daytime sleepiness of narcoleptic patients. Clin Neuropharmacol. 1986;9(1):46-51.
[Pubmed]
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| External Links |
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