Comparison of the efficacy of sustained-release amitriptyline with maprotiline in the treatment of depressive illness.
Forty consecutive psychiatric patients referred to hospital with a diagnosis of depressive illness were randomly allocated to double-blind treatment with either 50 mg sustained-release amitriptyline or 75 mg maprotiline in night-time dosage. The dosage was doubled after 1 week. Rating scale assessments were carried out regularly over a 5-week period. The results indicated that there was a significant improvement with both drugs which occurred at approximately the same speed and to the same extent. Side-effects were complained of by approximately as many patients on both forms of treatment.
D000328:Adult; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008376:Maprotiline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D000873:Anthracenes; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D000639:Amitriptyline; D008376:Maprotiline