Data on 22 subjects treated with fluoxetine suggest that magnetic
resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of fluorine-19 can measure brain
concentrations of fluoxetine/norfluoxetine in vivo. Fluoxetine accumulates
in the human brain relative to plasma, with brain concentrations of
fluoxetine/norfluoxetine ranging up to 10.7 micrograms/ml. Brain
concentrations may reach a plateau between 6 and 8 months of treatment. The
apparent concentration in brain relative to plasma is 20:1, roughly
parallel to brain antidepressant concentration ratios in animal
studies.
Abstract Teaser