Effects of tianeptine on vigilance and memory in young healthy volunteers

Tianeptine is a new antidepressant that, in animals, has a facilitating effect on both working and reference memory. To investigate the effects of tineptine on vigilance and memory in humans, a placebo-controlled cross-over study was performed in 20 healthy volunteers. The duration of each treatment period was 7 days and the dosage of tianeptine 37.5 mg per day. The evaluations consisted of 3 computerized tests assessing alert function, continuous recognition and semantic facilitation. A memory questionnaire and the Re test (15 words) were added. The analysis of variance (cross-over type) performed on the results did not show any significant difference between the evolution of these tests on tianeptine and on placebo in young healthy subjects, at the height of their intellectual capacities. In this study, tianeptine respected the vigilance as well as the performances of the healthy volunteers and did not impair their memory and cognitive processes, which distinguishes it from many psychotropic drugs. Nevertheless, tianeptine did not produce a facilitating effect on these processes in healthy volunteers. These results allow us to propose new clinical trial with tianeptine in order to investigate its effects on older volunteers and patients complaining of memory disorders.