The influence of a test meal on the absorption and disposition of tianeptine (Stablon), a new antidepressant, was investigated in 12 healthy subjects in a two-way, randomized, open cross-over study. Single 12.5-mg oral doses of tianeptine were administered following a night of fasting or immediately after a standardized breakfast. When subjects received tianeptine under fasting conditions the lag time before absorption onset, and the time of the maximum plasma concentration were 0.55 +/- 0.26 hours and 1.29 +/- 0.29 hours, respectively. The maximum plasma concentration was 322 +/- 44 ng/mL, and the total area under the curve 994 +/- 248 ng/hr/mL. When tianeptine was given at the end of the meal, several significant changes were found for tianeptine kinetic parameters; the lag time increased by 0.3 hour and the maximum plasma concentration was lowered (decreased by 25%) and occurred later (tmax increased by 0.5 hour). However, no significant change was found in the area under the plasma concentration-time curve. The trend and extent of changes in the MC5 metabolite parameters were similar to those observed for the parent drug. Absorption of tianeptine is slightly delayed and slowed down without modification of its extent when tianeptine is given at the end of a meal. These slight changes are not clinically relevant for an antidepressant administered three times a day. Despite the changes observed, tianeptine may be given at meal times to improve compliance with treatment.