A multicentre double blind trial of fluoxetine versus amitriptyline in the treatment of depressive illness.
The antidepressant efficacy and side effect profile of a fixed dose of 20 mg/day of fluoxetine, a specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor, were compared to those of amitriptyline. Fifty-eight patients with DSM-III-R depression were randomly assigned to receive either fluoxetine or amitriptyline. Fifty-six patients (fluoxetine N = 23, amitriptyline N = 23) completed the 6 week study. Comparable antidepressant efficacy was demonstrated for the two drugs. Patients taking fluoxetine reported less side-effects than those taking amitriptyline.
Judd
F K
FK
University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria.
Moore
K
K
Norman
T R
TR
Burrows
G D
GD
Gupta
R K
RK
Parker
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
D005473:Fluoxetine; D000639:Amitriptyline