When alprazolam was compared with placebo for reduction in symptoms all estimates indicated a positive effect for alprazolam .
The RD of all-cause withdrawals did not differ between alprazolam and placebo .
Alprazolam appears to reduce depressive symptoms more effectively than placebo and as effectively as tricyclic antidepressants .
Whilst the rate of all-cause withdrawals did not appear to differ between alprazolam and placebo , and withdrawals were less frequent in the alprazolam group than in any of the conventional antidepressants combined group , these findings should be interpreted with caution , given the dependency properties of benzodiazepines
BACKGROUND The ' off-label ' effect of alprazolam on depression has not been systematic ally evaluated .
OBJECTIVES To determine the antidepressant effect , including tolerability and acceptability , of alprazolam as monotherapy for major depression , when compared to placebo and conventional antidepressants in out patients and patients in primary care .
A Double Blind Comparison of Alprazolam and Amitriptyline Hydrochloride in the Treatment of Nonpsychotic Depression
In a six week , double-blind , parallel study of alprazolam and amitriptyline hydrochloride in 130 out patients suffering from moderate to severe nonpsychotic depression , alprazolam was as effective as amitriptyline hydrochloride in relieving depressive symptoms and significantly more effective in relieving symptoms of anxiety and somatization . Alprazolam showed an earlier onset of activity in most measurements of efficacy and produced fewer side effects than amitriptyline hydrochloride .  Anticholinergic side effects were reported more frequently by patients taking amitriptyline hydrochloride , while drowsiness was reported more frequently by patients taking alprazolam . At the end of the study , the average daily doses were 2.4 mg alprazolam and 135 mg amitriptyline hydrochloride . The Hamilton Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression , Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale , Physician 's Global Impressions , Patients ’ Global Impressions , Hopkins Self-Rating Symptom Scale , and Symptom and Side Effects Checklist were evaluated at the end of weeks 1 , 2 , 3 and 6 to determine and compare the efficacy and safety of the two study drugs
When alprazolam was compared with placebo for reduction in symptoms all estimates indicated a positive effect for alprazolam .
The RD of all-cause withdrawals did not differ between alprazolam and placebo .
Alprazolam appears to reduce depressive symptoms more effectively than placebo and as effectively as tricyclic antidepressants .
Whilst the rate of all-cause withdrawals did not appear to differ between alprazolam and placebo , and withdrawals were less frequent in the alprazolam group than in any of the conventional antidepressants combined group , these findings should be interpreted with caution , given the dependency properties of benzodiazepines
BACKGROUND The ' off-label ' effect of alprazolam on depression has not been systematic ally evaluated .
OBJECTIVES To determine the antidepressant effect , including tolerability and acceptability , of alprazolam as monotherapy for major depression , when compared to placebo and conventional antidepressants in out patients and patients in primary care .