ANALYSIS OF LIVER FUNCTION TESTS AND RENAL FUNCTION TESTS IN MAJOR DEPRESSIVE PATIENTS ON IMIPRAMINE, SERTRALINE AND ESCITALOPRAM THERAPY: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, AJMER, RAJASTHAN

Depression is the major cause of disability Worldwide. Antidepressant medications remain a mainstay of treatment for major depressive disorder. Our aim in this study was to analyze the LFT & RFT in patients of major depressive disorder taking imipramine, sertraline and escitalopram. A total of 810 such patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into three groups i.e. group I, II & III containing 270 patients in each group and treated with imipramine, sertraline and escitalopram as per scheduled dose respectively. LFT & RFT parameters during enrolment visit as well as follow up at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks were recorded and analysed as per appropriate statistical method. After 12 weeks of treatment mean value of SGOT, SGPT, serum bilirubin, serum alkaline phosphate, serum albumin and total protein level were increased in all study groups but these were within normal range.  In RFT; mean value of blood urea, uric acid and serum creatinine increased whereas serum sodium level and serum potassium level was reduced from base line after 12 weeks of treatment in all groups; however all these changes were observed within normal limits. Conclusion: In term of LFT & RFT, we found that all study drugs (Imipramine, Sertraline and Escitalopram) are safe in major depressive patients. We suggest, for safety of patients, LFT & RFT should be done before initiation of treatment and regularly during treatment to rule out any hepatic and/or renal discrepancy.