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 .
Clovoxamine in the treatment of depressed outpatients: a double-blind, parallel-group comparison against amitriptyline and placebo.
In a double-blind , r and om-assignment , parallel-group trial , out patients with major depression received either the new antidepressant clovoxamine , the tricyclic amitriptyline , or placebo for 6 weeks . By an " improvement " criterion of 50 % or greater improvement in the Hamilton Depression Scale ( HAM-D ) total score , 88 % of clovoxamine completers improved versus 75 % with amitriptyline and 43 % with placebo ; however , due to small numbers , the differences failed to reach statistical significance . Diminished salivary flow was significantly greater with amitriptyline , as were complaints of dry mouth , somnolence , dizziness , and headache . Nausea and vomiting were more common in the clovoxamine-treated group . With amitriptyline , but not with clovoxamine , memory performance declined over a month . However , psychomotor performance was not affected
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 .