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 .
Antidepressant response and plasma concentrations of bupropion.
A double-blind multicenter evaluation compared the antidepressant efficacy of bupropion ( Wellbutrin ) to both placebo and amitriptyline ( Elavil , Endep ) in adult patients who met DSM-III criteria for major depressive disorder . Steady-state plasma sample s were obtained 11 - 12 hours and 4 hours after the last dose in 50 and 44 patients , respectively , who were treated for 6 weeks with bupropion . There was a curvilinear relationship between antidepressant efficacy and trough plasma bupropion concentrations , with maximum response observed at 5 - 100 ng/ml and virtually none below 25 ng/ml . The increase in plasma bupropion concentration from the trough level to the 4 hour postdose peak level was also positively related to antidepressant response
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 .