Nortriptyline is the active metabolite of which of the following drugs?

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Multiple Choice

Nortriptyline is the active metabolite of which of the following drugs?

Explanation:
Nortriptyline is produced when amitriptyline is demethylated in the liver, turning the tertiary amine into a secondary amine metabolite that still has antidepressant activity. That’s why amitriptyline is the drug whose active metabolite is nortriptyline. Other TCAs have different active metabolites: imipramine is demethylated to desipramine, and doxepin is converted to nordoxepin, so those metabolites are not nortriptyline.

Nortriptyline is produced when amitriptyline is demethylated in the liver, turning the tertiary amine into a secondary amine metabolite that still has antidepressant activity. That’s why amitriptyline is the drug whose active metabolite is nortriptyline. Other TCAs have different active metabolites: imipramine is demethylated to desipramine, and doxepin is converted to nordoxepin, so those metabolites are not nortriptyline.

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