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 .
A placebo-controlled multicenter trial of Limbitrol versus its components (amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide) in the symptomatic treatment of depressive illness
In a multicenter , placebo-controlled , clinical trial , the efficacy of Limbitrol was compared with that of its components , amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide .  All patients had a diagnosis of primary depression . Data from 279 patients were evaluated using the Hamilton depression scale , the Beck depression inventory , and physician and patient global change measures .Statistically significant differences favoring Limbitrol occurred after 1 week of treatment , and a trend in favor of Limbitrol continued throughout the remaining 3 weeks . In most efficacy comparisons , the combination was as good as , or better than , amitriptyline alone . It was superior to chlordiazepoxide alone after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment . Each component produced an independent contribution to the total therapeutic effect : the chlordiazepoxide effect was more prominent in the first 2 weeks and the amitriptyline effect in the latter 2 weeks . A trend favoring amitriptyline over chlordiazepoxide was evident by week 4.The overall incidence of side effects was comparable in both Limbitrol- and amitriptyline-treated groups . Limbitrol-treated patients exhibited more sedation , but significantly fewer Limbitrol patients discontinued treatment prematurely because of side effects
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 .