Amitriptyline-induced supersensitivity of a central muscarinic mechanism: lithium blocks amitriptyline-induced supersensitivity.

Chronic treatment with amitriptyline produces dose-dependent super-sensitivity of a central muscarinic cholinergic mechanism involved in the regulation of core body temperature. The authors demonstrated that chronic treatment with lithium prevents the induction of this response. The potential clinical and theoretical significance of this finding is set forth.