Heterocyclic antidepressants in nonpsychiatric disorders.

Heterocyclic antidepressants have been used successfully in the treatment of migraine, enuresis and encopresis, peptic ulcer disease, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pain, narcolepsy, sleep apnea and attention deficit disorder. The mechanism of their therapeutic effects in these conditions is still unclear. Serotonergic, noradrenergic, anticholinergic and antihistaminic properties and rapid-eye-movement sleep suppression have been implicated.