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 .
Amoxapine and amitriptyline
Cognitive effects of brief antidepressant treatments were studied in depressed out patients assigned double-blind to equipotent doses of amoxapine or amitriptyline in a 12-week double-crossover of 3-week periods of active agent and placebo . The two drugs had different profiles of effects : amitriptyline was associated with faster reaction time on tests of attention and immediate memory , reduced accuracy on an attention task , and impaired long-term memory ( after 1 but not 3 weeks ) ; amoxapine slowed performance and increased intraperson variability on a psychomotor coordination task .  Amitriptyline facilitated performance in the more depressed patients , and amoxapine in the older patients . Both agents also increased pulse rate and reduced palmar sweating
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 .