A double-blind controlled clinical trial of fluoxetine and amitriptyline in the treatment of outpatients with major depressive disorder.
Fluoxetine, a specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor, was compared to amitriptyline in the treatment of 51 outpatients with primary major depressive disorder. After a 1-week placebo washout, patients were randomly assigned to 5 weeks of treatment with fluoxetine or amitriptyline. Fluoxetine was found to have a therapeutic effect comparable to that of amitriptyline; however, the fluoxetine treatment group had a better Efficacy Index-Side Effects rating and a lower incidence of anticholinergic autonomic side effects. Four amitriptyline-treated patients had to discontinue the study because of serious side effects, while in the fluoxetine treatment group there were no terminations due to side effects. The amitriptyline-treated patients gained significantly more weight than the fluoxetine-treated patients.
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004244:Dizziness / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010919:Placebos; D011437:Propylamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000139:chemically induced
D010919:Placebos; D011437:Propylamines; D005473:Fluoxetine; D000639:Amitriptyline