Reboxetine tolerability compared favourably with that of imipramine. Dostert P, Benedetti MS, Poggesi I Pharmacia and Upjohn, Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism Department, Milan, Italy. The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of reboxetine, a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, in humans and animal models are reviewed here. Reboxetine has potent antidepressant activity, low affinity for alpha-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors and low toxicity in animals. There were no major inter-species differences in the metabolic profile of reboxetine.
Elimination is principally renal in humans and monkeys.
Multiple dosing, gender or liver insufficiency had no significant effects on the pharmacokinetics. Reboxetine shows no clinically relevant interaction with lorazepam and has no inhibitory effects on the major enzymes involved in drug metabolism. In conclusion, reboxetine seems to be an antidepressant with negligible interference with the pharmacokinetics of other drugs thus fewer drug-drug interactions are expected. The effects of antidepressants on psychomotor function with particular reference to reboxetine. This review assesses the relative efficacy and side-effect profile of the currently available treatment options for major depression and the new selective noradrenergic agent, reboxetine.