title: Fluoxetine compared with amitriptyline in elderly depression: a controlled clinical trial.
abstract: Twenty-eight elderly inpatients suffering from major depressive episodes (diagnosed according to DSM III) received randomly, on a double-blind basis, amitriptyline (75 mg/die) or fluoxetine (20 mg/die) for five weeks. There were four drop-outs in the amitriptyline group and two drop-outs in the fluoxetine group. Both groups showed a significant amelioration at the end point for Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression scores compared to the baseline value. Anticholinergic side-effects were significantly more severe in the amitriptyline group. Weight gain was detected only in patients receiving amitriptyline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Altamura
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Novellis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guercetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Invernizzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Percudani
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Montgomery
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D005473:Fluoxetine; D000639:Amitriptyline