Amitriptyline is an efficacious antidepressant drug .
It is , however , also associated with a number of side effects .
Degree of placebo response and severity of depression at baseline may moderate drug-placebo efficacy differences
BACKGROUND Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that was synthesis ed in 1960 and introduced as early as 1961 in the USA , but is still regularly used .
It has also been frequently used as an active comparator in trials on newer antidepressants and can therefore be called a ' benchmark ' antidepressant .
However , its efficacy and safety compared to placebo in the treatment of major depression has not been assessed in a systematic review and meta- analysis .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of amitriptyline compared to placebo or no treatment for major depressive disorder in adults .
A clinical test of noradrenergic involvement in the therapeutic mode of action of an experimental antidepressant
The noradrenaline ( NA ) hypothesis of depression is founded primarily on pre clinical and clinical ly indirect evidence . In two three-compartment r and omized parallel clinical trials conducted serially , we examined the significance of NA uptake for antidepressant activity . The racemic compound oxaprotiline ( hydroxymaprotiline ) is a highly specific inhibitor of NA uptake , whereas its R-(- ) enantiomer levoprotiline is totally devoid of this property . Oxaprotiline significantly resembled amitriptyline in its antidepressant potential . Conversely , levoprotiline significantly resembled placebo in antidepressant potential . Therefore , NA uptake was necessary for the observed therapeutic effect of this experimental antidepressant
Amitriptyline is an efficacious antidepressant drug .
It is , however , also associated with a number of side effects .
Degree of placebo response and severity of depression at baseline may moderate drug-placebo efficacy differences
BACKGROUND Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that was synthesis ed in 1960 and introduced as early as 1961 in the USA , but is still regularly used .
It has also been frequently used as an active comparator in trials on newer antidepressants and can therefore be called a ' benchmark ' antidepressant .
However , its efficacy and safety compared to placebo in the treatment of major depression has not been assessed in a systematic review and meta- analysis .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of amitriptyline compared to placebo or no treatment for major depressive disorder in adults .