College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2024-06-04 07:52:23
Major
Biomedical Science
Honors Course
Senior Honors Program in Biology
Number of Credits
2
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2024
Abstract
The prevalence of patients being prescribed multiple medications concurrently is significantly rising, and so is the importance of investigating any interactions between medications. One common example—sertraline and clomipramine have been used together to treat obsessive compulsive disorder. Clomipramine, however, is known to cause tachyarrhythmias in some patients. The present study set out to investigate the role of this drug combination on the heart rate of a simple animal model, Daphnia magna, or the water flea. The water flea was exposed to saline, sertraline, clomipramine, or sertraline plus clomipramine, and heart rate was measured subsequently. It was found that the drug combination significantly reduced heart rate compared to saline. This suggests that further research into the effects of TCAs and SSRIs on the cardiovascular system of animal models is needed to ensure the safety of such polypharmacy for human patients.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Brian Bagatto
First Reader
Dr. Rachel Olson
Second Reader
Dr. Peter Niewiarowski
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Brian Bagatto
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Recommended Citation
Miller, Gwendolynne and Bagatto, Brian, "Psychotropic Polypharmacy on Heart Rate of Daphnia Magna" (2024). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1900.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1900