Efficacy and tolerability of fluoxetine in the elderly: a double-blind study versus amitryptiline.
Twenty-eight elderly in-patients suffering from major depressive episodes received randomly, on a double-blind basis, amitryptiline or fluoxetine for 5 weeks. There were 4 drop-outs in the amitryptiline group and 2 drop-outs in the fluoxetine group. Both groups showed a significant amelioration at the end point for HRS-D scores compared to the baseline value. Anticholinergic side-effects were significantly more severe in the amitryptiline group. Weight gain was detected only in patients receiving amitryptiline.
Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Milan, Italy.
A C
AC
Altamura
M
M
Percudani
G
G
Guercetti
G
G
Invernizzi
D000368:Aged; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D005473:Fluoxetine; D000639:Amitriptyline