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 .
Comparison of the electrocardiographic effect of dothiepin and amitriptyline.
Electrocardiograms of 65 patients treated with dothiepin , a sulphur substituted tricyclic antidepressant , were compared to those of 57 patients receiving amitriptyline and 62 patients given placebo . Amitriptyline produced an average heart rate increase of 10 beats/minute as compared to 5 beats/minute for dothiepin ( p less than .02 ) . Amitriptyline also produced a significant prolongation of the corrected QT interval as compared to both dothiepin and placebo ( p less than .01 and p less than .001 , respectively ) . Dothiepin had no significant effect on any index of myocardial conduction ( PR interval , corrected QT interval , and QRS duration ) as compared to placebo
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 .