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 .
Relationship between response to phenelzine and MAO inhibition in a clinical trial of phenelzine, amitriptyline and placebo.
This report examines the hypothesis that for phenelzine to be more effective than placebo it is necessary to achieve at least 80 % inhibition of platelet MAO activity . This hypothesis was examined in the context of a double-blind comparison of phenelzine , amitriptyline and placebo in depressed patients . When phenelzine became significantly more effective than placebo at 4 weeks , the average MAO inhibition was 85 % . By the 5th week , with MAO inhibition greater than 90 % , phenelzine was significantly more effective than amitriptyline . A highly significant correlation was noted between improvement and MAO inhibition within the phenelzine group
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 .