Monotherapy with reboxetine in amphetamine withdrawal syndrome.

Amphetamine withdrawal can induce a condition with the symptoms of major depression. We report the case of a 46-year-old woman with antecedents of abuse of amphetamines and amphetamine derivatives from age 16 to age 41, who in the 5 years since withdrawal presented recurrent depression resistant to treatment. She was treated with maximum doses of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and lithium, but there was no remission of symptoms. On being treated with reboxetine, a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, euthymia was achieved, without negative after effects. Several studies have shown that noradrenaline plays an important role in the modulation of the response to amphetamines. The findings in this case suggest that reboxetine may constitute an interesting alternative for the treatment of amphetamine withdrawal syndrome (AWS).