Social phobia is a common disorder associated with significant psychosocial impairment, representing a substantial public health problem largely determined by the high prevalence, and the lifelong chronicity. Social phobia starts in early childhood or adolescence and is often comorbid with depression, other anxiety disorders, alcohol and substance abuse or eating disorders. This cascade of comorbidity, usually secondary to social phobia, increases the disability associated with the condition. The possibility that social phobia may be a trigger for later developing comorbid disorders directs attention to the need for early effective treatment as a preventive measure. The most recent drug class to be investigated for the psychopharmacological treatment of social phobia is the SSRI group for which there is growing support. The other drug classes that have been evaluated are monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), benzodiazepines, and beta-blockers. The SSRIs represent a new and attractive therapeutic choice for patients with generalized social phobia. Recently the first, large scale, placebo-controlled study to assess the efficacy of drug treatment in generalized social phobia has been completed with paroxetine. Paroxetine was more effective in reducing the symptoms than placebo and was well tolerated. Many now regard SSRIs as the drugs of choice in social phobia because of their effectiveness and because they avoid the problems of treatment with benzodiazepines or classical MAOIs.

Social phobia is a common disorder associated with significant psychosocial impairment, representing a substantial public health problem largely determined by the high prevalence, and the lifelong chronicity. Social phobia starts in early childhood or adolescence and is often comorbid with depression, other anxiety disorders, alcohol and substance abuse or eating disorders. This cascade of comorbidity, usually secondary to social phobia, increases the disability associated with the condition. The possibility that social phobia may be a trigger for later developing comorbid disorders directs attention to the need for early effective treatment as a preventive measure. The most recent drug class to be investigated for the psychopharmacological treatment of social phobia is the SSRI group for which there is growing support. The other drug classes that have been evaluated are monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), benzodiazepines, and beta-blockers. The SSRIs represent a new and attractive therapeutic choice for patients with generalized social phobia. Recently the first, large scale, placebo-controlled study to assess the efficacy of drug treatment in generalized social phobia has been completed with paroxetine. Paroxetine was more effective in reducing the symptoms than placebo and was well tolerated. Many now regard SSRIs as the drugs of choice in social phobia because of their effectiveness and because they avoid the problems of treatment with benzodiazepines or classical MAOIs.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

O uso de fármacos durante a lactação é uma prática comum; porém, os tratamentos farmacológicos impõem grandes dúvidas tanto aos profissionais quanto às nutrizes sobre a segurança do uso destes durante este período. A amamentação é uma forma de vínculo entre mãe e bebê e está associada a diversos benefícios nutricionais, imunológicos, cognitivos, psicoafetivos, econômicos e sociais. A depressão é um problema clínico importante durante o período pós-parto, e a vulnerabilidade para o início ou recorrência de sintomas depressivos aumenta a possibilidade de uso de psicofármacos enquanto ocorre a lactação. Os antidepressivos inibidores seletivos da recaptação da serotonina são comumente prescritos para o tratamento destes quadros depressivos, entre eles fluoxetina, sertralina, citalopram e paroxetina, sendo que a maioria destes é excretada no leite materno e há grande variabilidade na quantidade de analitos que pode ser recebida pelo lactente. Bupropiona é um fármaco antidepressivo utilizado para o tratamento do tabagismo e quadros depressivos e tem sua excreção ao leite materno relatada em literatura. Métodos bioanalíticos para determinação da excreção de fármacos antidepressivos foram desenvolvidos e validados por cromatografia líquida acoplada a espectrômetro de massas e cromatografia líquida com detecção ultravioleta. Estes métodos demonstraram serem seletivos, lineares, precisos e exatos, com limites de quantificação de 5 ng/mL (fluoxetina, citalopram e bupropiona) e 20 ng/mL (sertralina e paroxetina) para método por LC-MS e de 200 ng/mL para todos os analitos no método por CLAE-UV. As amostras de leite materno foram coletadas em Banco de Leite de mães que declararam utilizar fluoxetina ou sertralina ou paroxetina e analisados. Os dados de concentração encontrados para os fármacos referidos estão dentro da faixa encontrada em literatura confirmando sua excreção no leite materno. Paroxetina apresentou valores abaixo do limite de quantificação. Das concentrações encontradas no leite materno, foram estimadas as doses absolutas e relativas no lactante, sendo que os resultados demonstraram baixos valores em relação a estas estimativas, podendo os fármacos analisados ser considerados seguros para manutenção do uso durante a lactação. Foi também detectada nas análises por LC-MS a presença de norfluoxetina, metabólito da fluoxetina, confirmando sua excreção nesta matriz. / The use of medications during lactation is a common practice; however pharmacological treatments impose serious doubts to both, professionals and nursing mothers, about the safety of drugs use during this period. Breastfeeding is a natural form of bonding between mother and baby and it is associated with many nutritional, immunological, cognitive, psychoemotional, social and economic benefits. Depression is a major clinical problem during the postpartum period and the vulnerability to onset or recurrence of depressive symptoms increases the possibility of psychotropic drug use during lactation. Selective inhibitors of serotonin reuptake are commonly prescribed for the treatment of depressive disorders, including fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram and paroxetine. Most of these drugs are excreted in breast milk and there is great variability in the amount of analytes that can be received by the infant. Bupropion is an antidepressant used for tabagism treatment and for depression symptoms; it is also described in literature its excretion into breast milk. Bioanalytical methods for determining the excretion of antidepressants were developed and validated by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. These methods proved to be selective, linear, precise and accurate with quantification limits of 5 ng/mL (fluoxetine, citalopram e bupropion) and 20 ng/mL (sertraline e paroxetine) for LC-MS method and 200 ng/mL for all analytes in the CLAE-UV method. Human milk samples were collected in milk banks from mothers to which the antidepressants fluoxetine or sertraline or paroxetine were administered, and the concentrations in this matrix were verified. Found concentrations were within the range described in the literature confirming their excretion in the breast milk. Paroxetine presented values less than limit of quantification. From the found concentrations, the absolute and relative doses in nursing were estimated. The results showed low values for these estimates and so the analyzed drugs can be considered safe to continue use during lactation. The presence of norfluoxetine, a metabolite of fluoxetine, was also detected by LC-MS, confirming its excretion in this matrix.

Submitted by (lucia.rodrigues@ufrpe.br) on 2017-02-15T15:54:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Zenaide Severina do Monte.pdf: 2760660 bytes, checksum: c07a4369e12f4af72ee82c783db1000c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-15T15:54:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Zenaide Severina do Monte.pdf: 2760660 bytes, checksum: c07a4369e12f4af72ee82c783db1000c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-24 / This paper describes the qualitative and quantitative analysis by circular dichroism (CD) of paroxetine hydrochloride and qualitative analysis of biperiden hydrochloride. It was developed the method a simple, rapid, which uses the differential absorption of circularly polarized light right and left environment for the qualification and quantification of raw materials the drugs mentioned above using the technique by circular dichroism. The method developed followed the criteria of rules and recommended by ANVISA and ICH. The paroxetine hydrochloride and biperiden hydrochloride are chiral drug that can be used for the treatment of depression and Parkinson's, respectively. Paroxetine (PRX), a chiral drug, has two stereogenic carbon atoms in its chemical structure. The PRX, was dissolved in ultrapure water concentration 5,47.10-4 molL-1 DC analysis. Their spectrum showed an intense negative Cotton effect in mdeg - 37.4653. The standard curve the solution of reference a correlation coefficient of 0.9907 for the concentration range of the 0,91.10-4/ 5,47.10-4 molL-1. The limits of detection and quantification were 0,197.10-4 and 0,656.10-4 molL-1, respectively. The repeatability and precision intermediate had variance of 1.32. The results showed good accuracy for interval of 95%. The study showed that the recovery of the extraction method of PRX the drug was effective. The method is robust and the samples were stable to temperature variations. The method was selective for quantification of the drug by evaluating the interference of the excipients. Analyses with biperiden, a substance which has four chiral centers, were performed with the secondary standard BPR and the drug by the DC of molar concentrations 3,21.10-3 and 3,21.10-4 respectively. The samples had EC negative as well as the primary standard USP BPR. The spectrum obtained by theoretical calculation showed a positive Cotton effect of the enantiomers of BPR. These results indicate that one of the enantiomers can BPR is in excess or that the substance is pure or impurities which are chiral. / O presente trabalho descreve a análise qualitativa e quantitativa por dicroísmo circular (DC) do cloridrato de paroxetina e a análise qualitativa do cloridrato de biperideno. Foi desenvolvido um método simples, rápida, que faz uso da absorção diferenciada da luz circularmente polarizada a direita e a esqueda para a qualificação e quantificação da matéria-prima e os fármacos citados anteriormente empregando a técnica por dicroísmo circular. O desenvolvimento do método seguiu os critérios das normas vigentes e recomendadas pela ANVISA e ICH. O cloridrato de paroxetina e o cloridrato de biperideno são drogas quirais, que pode ser utilizadas para o tratamento da depressão e de parkinson, respectivamente. A paroxetina (PRX), um fármaco quiral, apresenta dois carbonos estereogênicos em sua estrutura química. A PRX, foi dissolvida em água ultrapura a concentração de 5,47.10-4 molL-1 para análise em DC. O seu espectro apresentou um Efeito Cotton intenso e negativo em -37,4653 mdeg. A curva da solução de referência apresentou um coeficiente de correlação de 0,9907 para o intervalo de concentração de 0,91.10-4 a 5,47.10-4 molL-1. Os limites de detecção e quantificação foram de 0,197.10-4 e de 0,656.10-4 molL-1, respectivamente. A repetitividade e precisão intermediária apresentaram variancia média 1,32. A exatidão apresentou resultados bons para o intervalo de confiança de 95%. O método foi seletivo para quantificação do fármaco avaliando a interferência dos excipientes. As análises com o biperideno, uma substância que tem quatro centros quirais, foram realizadas com o padrão secundário BPR e com o fármaco por DC nas concentrações molares de 3,21.10-3 e de 3,21.10-4 respectivamente. As amostras apresentaram EC negativos, assim como no BPR padrão primário da USP. O espectro obtido por cálculo teórico apresentou um Efeito Cotton positivo para um dos enantiômeros do BPR. Esses resultados indicam que um dos enantiômeros do BPR pode está em excesso ou que a substância está pura ou ainda que existem impurezas quirais.

Background: Estrogen has been reported to enhance well-being and quality of life during the climacteric phase. In women with an intact uterus estrogen treatment is always combined with progestins in order to protect the endometrium from hyperplasia and malignancies. However, in certain women the addition of progestins causes cyclicity in negative mood symptoms and physical symptoms similar to those encountered during ovulatory cycles in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The ovarian hormones estradiol and progesterone have profound effects on a number of neurotransmitter systems in the brain, such as the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) system and the serotonergic system. Progesterone metabolites, such as allopregnanolone and pregnanolone (also referred to as neurosteroids) modify the GABAA receptor in the central nervous system (CNS) and enhance GABAergic inhibitory transmission. Neurosteroid sensitivity in human studies can be studied by saccadic eye movement measurements using pharmacodynamic challenges with pregnanolone. Altered neurosteroid sensitivity has been suggested as a possible contributory factor to the progesterone/progestin-induced adverse mood effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). There is also evidence of estrogen treatment affecting the serotonergic system in postmenopausal women, although progestin addition has been less well studied. Aims and method: The aim was to investigate whether the negative mood symptoms experienced during the progestin or progesterone phase of HRT were associated with changes in neurosteroid sensitivity, or changes in platelet serotonin uptake site (transporter) and serotonin2A (5-HT2A) receptor binding. The intention was also to investigate whether hormonal changes during the normal menstrual cycle affect these peripheral serotonergic parameters. Postmenopausal women with climacteric symptoms were given HRT in two randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover studies. The women received 2 mg estradiol (E2) continuously during 28- day cycles. Synthetic progestins or natural progesterone were added sequentially during the last 14 days, and compared to a placebo addition. Before treatment, as well as during the last week of each treatment cycle the pharmacodynamic response to pregnanolone was assessed using saccadic eye movement measurements. Throughout the studies daily symptom ratings were made. In the study regarding synthetic progestins, platelet serotonin transporter and 5-HT2A receptor binding were assayed before entering the study, as well as during the last week of each treatment cycle. In the study on reproductive women, blood samples were collected for analysis of platelet serotonin transporter and 5-HT2A receptor binding at six different points in time during the menstrual cycle. Results and conclusion: The addition of synthetic progestins to estrogen treatment increased negative mood symptoms and physical symptoms, whereas positive symptoms decreased. The addition of progestins also increased the sensitivity to pregnanolone. The addition of natural progesterone to estrogen treatment increased the sensitivity to pregnanolone. However, in this study the pregnanolone sensitivity was enhanced also during estrogen treatment. Women expressing cyclicity in negative mood symptoms were more sensitive to pregnanolone than women without symptom cyclicity. Thus, it is evident that mood deterioration during HRT is associated with altered neurosteroid sensitivity. Platelet serotonin transporter and 5-HT2A receptor binding did not change during the different treatment conditions in HRT. Thus, we were unable to explain the negative mood changes of HRT by use of these peripheral serotonergic parameters. In the study on reproductive women however, it was clear that the serotonergic variables did change during the menstrual cycle. Binding to the serotonin transporter was higher in the late follicular phase than in the ovulatory, early luteal or mid-luteal phases. Binding to the 5-HT2A receptor was higher in the early follicular phase and the early luteal phase than in the mid-luteal phase. These findings may provide a link between the ovarian steroids, and the GABAergic and serotonergic neurotransmitter systems, which in turn, could explain part of the specific vulnerability that women have for the development of adverse mood effects during HRT, mood and anxiety disorders and for the deterioration of mood so frequently seen during the luteal phase.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

O uso de fármacos durante a lactação é uma prática comum; porém, os tratamentos farmacológicos impõem grandes dúvidas tanto aos profissionais quanto às nutrizes sobre a segurança do uso destes durante este período. A amamentação é uma forma de vínculo entre mãe e bebê e está associada a diversos benefícios nutricionais, imunológicos, cognitivos, psicoafetivos, econômicos e sociais. A depressão é um problema clínico importante durante o período pós-parto, e a vulnerabilidade para o início ou recorrência de sintomas depressivos aumenta a possibilidade de uso de psicofármacos enquanto ocorre a lactação. Os antidepressivos inibidores seletivos da recaptação da serotonina são comumente prescritos para o tratamento destes quadros depressivos, entre eles fluoxetina, sertralina, citalopram e paroxetina, sendo que a maioria destes é excretada no leite materno e há grande variabilidade na quantidade de analitos que pode ser recebida pelo lactente. Bupropiona é um fármaco antidepressivo utilizado para o tratamento do tabagismo e quadros depressivos e tem sua excreção ao leite materno relatada em literatura. Métodos bioanalíticos para determinação da excreção de fármacos antidepressivos foram desenvolvidos e validados por cromatografia líquida acoplada a espectrômetro de massas e cromatografia líquida com detecção ultravioleta. Estes métodos demonstraram serem seletivos, lineares, precisos e exatos, com limites de quantificação de 5 ng/mL (fluoxetina, citalopram e bupropiona) e 20 ng/mL (sertralina e paroxetina) para método por LC-MS e de 200 ng/mL para todos os analitos no método por CLAE-UV. As amostras de leite materno foram coletadas em Banco de Leite de mães que declararam utilizar fluoxetina ou sertralina ou paroxetina e analisados. Os dados de concentração encontrados para os fármacos referidos estão dentro da faixa encontrada em literatura confirmando sua excreção no leite materno. Paroxetina apresentou valores abaixo do limite de quantificação. Das concentrações encontradas no leite materno, foram estimadas as doses absolutas e relativas no lactante, sendo que os resultados demonstraram baixos valores em relação a estas estimativas, podendo os fármacos analisados ser considerados seguros para manutenção do uso durante a lactação. Foi também detectada nas análises por LC-MS a presença de norfluoxetina, metabólito da fluoxetina, confirmando sua excreção nesta matriz. / The use of medications during lactation is a common practice; however pharmacological treatments impose serious doubts to both, professionals and nursing mothers, about the safety of drugs use during this period. Breastfeeding is a natural form of bonding between mother and baby and it is associated with many nutritional, immunological, cognitive, psychoemotional, social and economic benefits. Depression is a major clinical problem during the postpartum period and the vulnerability to onset or recurrence of depressive symptoms increases the possibility of psychotropic drug use during lactation. Selective inhibitors of serotonin reuptake are commonly prescribed for the treatment of depressive disorders, including fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram and paroxetine. Most of these drugs are excreted in breast milk and there is great variability in the amount of analytes that can be received by the infant. Bupropion is an antidepressant used for tabagism treatment and for depression symptoms; it is also described in literature its excretion into breast milk. Bioanalytical methods for determining the excretion of antidepressants were developed and validated by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. These methods proved to be selective, linear, precise and accurate with quantification limits of 5 ng/mL (fluoxetine, citalopram e bupropion) and 20 ng/mL (sertraline e paroxetine) for LC-MS method and 200 ng/mL for all analytes in the CLAE-UV method. Human milk samples were collected in milk banks from mothers to which the antidepressants fluoxetine or sertraline or paroxetine were administered, and the concentrations in this matrix were verified. Found concentrations were within the range described in the literature confirming their excretion in the breast milk. Paroxetine presented values less than limit of quantification. From the found concentrations, the absolute and relative doses in nursing were estimated. The results showed low values for these estimates and so the analyzed drugs can be considered safe to continue use during lactation. The presence of norfluoxetine, a metabolite of fluoxetine, was also detected by LC-MS, confirming its excretion in this matrix.

O uso de fármacos durante a lactação é uma prática comum; porém, os tratamentos farmacológicos impõem grandes dúvidas tanto aos profissionais quanto às nutrizes sobre a segurança do uso destes durante este período. A amamentação é uma forma de vínculo entre mãe e bebê e está associada a diversos benefícios nutricionais, imunológicos, cognitivos, psicoafetivos, econômicos e sociais. A depressão é um problema clínico importante durante o período pós-parto, e a vulnerabilidade para o início ou recorrência de sintomas depressivos aumenta a possibilidade de uso de psicofármacos enquanto ocorre a lactação. Os antidepressivos inibidores seletivos da recaptação da serotonina são comumente prescritos para o tratamento destes quadros depressivos, entre eles fluoxetina, sertralina, citalopram e paroxetina, sendo que a maioria destes é excretada no leite materno e há grande variabilidade na quantidade de analitos que pode ser recebida pelo lactente. Bupropiona é um fármaco antidepressivo utilizado para o tratamento do tabagismo e quadros depressivos e tem sua excreção ao leite materno relatada em literatura. Métodos bioanalíticos para determinação da excreção de fármacos antidepressivos foram desenvolvidos e validados por cromatografia líquida acoplada a espectrômetro de massas e cromatografia líquida com detecção ultravioleta. Estes métodos demonstraram serem seletivos, lineares, precisos e exatos, com limites de quantificação de 5 ng/mL (fluoxetina, citalopram e bupropiona) e 20 ng/mL (sertralina e paroxetina) para método por LC-MS e de 200 ng/mL para todos os analitos no método por CLAE-UV. As amostras de leite materno foram coletadas em Banco de Leite de mães que declararam utilizar fluoxetina ou sertralina ou paroxetina e analisados. Os dados de concentração encontrados para os fármacos referidos estão dentro da faixa encontrada em literatura confirmando sua excreção no leite materno. Paroxetina apresentou valores abaixo do limite de quantificação. Das concentrações encontradas no leite materno, foram estimadas as doses absolutas e relativas no lactante, sendo que os resultados demonstraram baixos valores em relação a estas estimativas, podendo os fármacos analisados ser considerados seguros para manutenção do uso durante a lactação. Foi também detectada nas análises por LC-MS a presença de norfluoxetina, metabólito da fluoxetina, confirmando sua excreção nesta matriz. / The use of medications during lactation is a common practice; however pharmacological treatments impose serious doubts to both, professionals and nursing mothers, about the safety of drugs use during this period. Breastfeeding is a natural form of bonding between mother and baby and it is associated with many nutritional, immunological, cognitive, psychoemotional, social and economic benefits. Depression is a major clinical problem during the postpartum period and the vulnerability to onset or recurrence of depressive symptoms increases the possibility of psychotropic drug use during lactation. Selective inhibitors of serotonin reuptake are commonly prescribed for the treatment of depressive disorders, including fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram and paroxetine. Most of these drugs are excreted in breast milk and there is great variability in the amount of analytes that can be received by the infant. Bupropion is an antidepressant used for tabagism treatment and for depression symptoms; it is also described in literature its excretion into breast milk. Bioanalytical methods for determining the excretion of antidepressants were developed and validated by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. These methods proved to be selective, linear, precise and accurate with quantification limits of 5 ng/mL (fluoxetine, citalopram e bupropion) and 20 ng/mL (sertraline e paroxetine) for LC-MS method and 200 ng/mL for all analytes in the CLAE-UV method. Human milk samples were collected in milk banks from mothers to which the antidepressants fluoxetine or sertraline or paroxetine were administered, and the concentrations in this matrix were verified. Found concentrations were within the range described in the literature confirming their excretion in the breast milk. Paroxetine presented values less than limit of quantification. From the found concentrations, the absolute and relative doses in nursing were estimated. The results showed low values for these estimates and so the analyzed drugs can be considered safe to continue use during lactation. The presence of norfluoxetine, a metabolite of fluoxetine, was also detected by LC-MS, confirming its excretion in this matrix.

La 3,4-metilendioximetamfetamina (MDMA, èxtasi) és una droga de síntesi que es consumeix entre els joves de forma recreativa. S'ha postulat que la 3,4-dihidroximetamfetamina (HHMA), metabòlit que es forma a partir de l'O-demetilenació de la MDMA a través majoritàriament de l'isoenzim CYP2D6, podria tenir un paper important en el desenvolupament de la neurotoxicitat atribuïda a la MDMA. Així, un dels objectius de la tesi ha estat establir quin paper juga i quina importància té, des d'un punt de vista quantitatiu, aquest metabòlit HHMA en el metabolisme global de la MDMA in vivo. Per altra banda, el CYP2D6 és un enzim polimòrfic, i potencialment els subjectes metabolitzadors lents per aquesta acitivitat enzimàtica podrien tenir un risc més alt de patir toxicitat aguda. La MDMA es consumeix sovint concomitantment amb inhibidors selectius de la recaptació de serotonina (SSRI). Alguns SSRI, com la paroxetina i la fluoxetina, són inhibidors del CYP2D6 i es pot preveure una interacció metabòlica entre aquests tipus de substàncies. Mitjançant un assaig clínic (aleatori, doble cec, creuat i controlat amb placebo) en humans, s'ha estudiat la rellevància de la inhibició de l'activitat del CYP2D6, la seva contribució en el metabolisme de la MDMA i els efectes farmacològics que resulten de la co-administració de la MDMA i la paroxetina.Han estat determinades les concentracions plasmàtiques i urinàries de la MDMA i dels metabòlits més importants de la MDMA, així com les concentracions plasmàtiques de paroxetina juntament amb el seu metabòlit principal.Dels resultats obtinguts, la tesi conclou que l'HHMA és un metabòlit rellevant en la disposició metabòlica de la MDMA. L'estudi d'interacció mostra que la MDMA veu reduït el seu metabolisme oxidatiu al voltant d'un 30% i que ambdós compostos mostren una interacció metabòlica. El CYP2D6 podria contribuir in vivo en l'O-demetilenació de la MDMA en un 30%. / 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a synthetic amphetamine derivative misused among youths for recreational purposes. It has been postulated that 3,4-dihydroxymethamphetamine (HHMA), a metabolite resulting from the O-demethylenation of MDMA through CYP2D6 may play a role in the development of the neurotoxicity. Thus, one of the major aims of the thesis was to establish HHMA relevance, from a quantitative point of view, in MDMA metabolism. Moreover, CYP2D6 is a polymorphic enzyme and the participation of CYP2D6 in the oxidative metabolism of MDMA may suggest an increased risk for acute toxicity in poor metabolizers for this enzymatic activity. MDMA is sometimes consumed concomitantly with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Some SSRI are potent CYP2D6 inhibitors such as paroxetine or fluoxetine and a metabolic interaction between these drugs and MDMA could be expected. Thus, interaction studies of MDMA with SSRI may be an in vivo approach to evaluate the contribution of CYP2D6 on MDMA disposition and the effects of the co-administration of both compounds. The major objective was to assess the contribution of CYP2D6 to MDMA disposition using paroxetine as a metabolic probe inhibitor. It was carried out a clinical trial in humans. The study was randomized, double blind, crossover, and controlled with placebo. Plasma concentration-time profiles and urinary recoveries of MDMA and main metabolites including HHMA were obtained. Paroxetine and its main metabolite (hydroxy-methoxy-paroxetine) plasma concentrations were also determined. From the results obtained, it is conclude that HHMA is a relevant metabolite on MDMA disposition in humans. The interaction study shows a 30% reduction of MDMA metabolic disposition and both MDMA and paroxetine show a pharmacodynamic interaction. It is estimated that CYP2D6 may accounts for a 30% of MDMA O-demethylenation in humans.