Table 1.
Pharmacokinetic properties of TCA
| Drug | Bioavailability% | Protein Binding% | Plasma half-life (hours) | Active metabolites | Volume of distribution (l/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amitryptiline | 31–61 | 82–96 | 31–46 | Nortiptyline | 5–20 |
| Amoxapine | 46–82 | NA | 8.8–14 | NA | |
| Clomipramine | 36–62 | 90–98 | 22–84 | Desmethyl | 7–20 |
| Desipramine | 60–70 | 73–90 | 14–62 | 22–59 | |
| Dothiepin | 30 | 85 | 14–24 | Dothiepin-s-oxide | 11–78 |
| Doxepin | 13–45 | 80 | 8–24 | Desmethyl | 9–33 |
| Imipramine | 29–77 | 76–95 | 9–24 | Desipramine | 15–30 |
| Maprotiline | 79–87 | 88 | 27–50 | 16–32 | |
| Nortriptyline | 32–79 | 93–95 | 18–93 | 10-hydroxy | 21–57 |
| Protriptyline | 75–90 | 90–94 | 54–198 | 15–31 | |
| Trimipramine | 18–63 | 93–97 | 16–40 | 17–48 |
Adapted from Dziukas 1991, DeVane CL, Cyclic Antidepressants, In: Burton ME, Shaw LM, et al. Applied Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: Principles of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring 2006; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, pp 781–797.