Weight change in older depressed patients during acute pharmacotherapy with paroxetine and nortriptyline: a double-blind randomized trial.
The authors examined weight change in 32 elderly patients treated for 12 weeks with either nortriptyline or paroxetine during acute-phase pharmacotherapy. Random assignment to treatment and double-blind assessment of weight change were performed, including ascertainment of premorbid (i.e., pre-depression) weight. Pretreatment severity of depression was correlated with weight loss during the depressive episode and depression-related weight loss, in turn, correlated with weight regained during antidepressant treatment. There was no differential weight change associated with nortriptyline vs. paroxetine. Rather, subjects in both groups approximated their premorbid weights by 12 weeks of acute-phase pharmacotherapy with either agent. However, additional investigation of weight change during continuation and maintenance pharmacotherapy is necessary and would be clinically useful for the long-term management of elderly patients with depression.
Weber
E
E
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA, USA.
Stack
J
J
Pollock
B G
BG
Mulsant
B
B
Begley
A
A
Mazumdar
S
S
Reynolds CF3rd
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D009661:Nortriptyline; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors