title: Electrocardiographic effects of nortriptyline, phenelzine, and placebo under optimal treatment conditions.
abstract: The authors treated 44 outpatients 55 years old or older who were suffering from major depression with either nortriptyline, phenelzine, or placebo for 7 weeks. Plasma levels of nortriptyline were kept between 50 and 170 ng/ml, and platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition in phenelzine-treated patients was kept between 70% and 80%. ECGs were compared before and after treatment. Nortriptyline produced statistically significant increases in both the heart rate and the PR interval, although none was outside the normal range. Phenelzine produced a significant decrease in the QT interval. None of the patients had pathological ECG changes under the closely monitored treatment conditions of this study.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010624:Phenelzine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010919:Placebos
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D009661:Nortriptyline; D010624:Phenelzine