title: Alprazolam and amitriptyline in the treatment of moderate depression.
abstract: Forty-three out-patients with depression of a moderate degree were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind parallel group study comparing amitriptyline and alprazolam for 6 weeks of treatment. Patients were evaluated at the end of placebo washout and at Weeks 1, 2, 3 and 6 of drug therapy using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI). Drug dosage was determined in a fixed-flexible design resulting in mean final doses of alprazolam 3.2 mg/day and of amitriptyline 115 mg/day. Although both drug groups improved there were statistically significant differences in favour of amitriptyline at the end of the study on the HAM-D, BDI and HAM-A scales. Patients on amitriptyline reported more side effects overall than patients taking alprazolam with significantly more reports of dry mouth in the amitriptyline group.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Y D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Lapierre
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oyewumi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarantidis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory
chemical_list: D000639:Amitriptyline; D000525:Alprazolam