Multicenter double blind study of paroxetine and amitriptyline in elderly depressed inpatients.
Paroxetine is a phenylpiperidine compound which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Ninety-one hospitalised patients with a major depression (DSM-III) aged 65 and over from six Austrian and one German center were entered into the study, which compared the efficacy and tolerability of paroxetine versus amitriptyline. After 6 weeks both groups showed similarly good therapeutic results. In the paroxetine group, 64.3% of the patients had a 50% or more reduction of the HAMD total score compared to 58.1% in the amitriptyline group. Side effects were distributed similarly in both groups. Patients in the paroxetine group showed a higher incidence of anxiety and agitation; anticholinergic side effects were registered more often in the amitriptyline group.
Geretsegger
C
C
Salzburg State Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Austria.
Stuppaeck
C H
CH
Mair
M
M
Platz
T
T
Fartacek
R
R
Heim
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000639:Amitriptyline; D017374:Paroxetine