Effects of nortriptyline and paroxetine on postural sway in depressed elderly patients.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) have previously been found to be related to an increased incidence of falls in elderly persons. Recent pharmacoepidemiologic and nursing home studies have suggested that the risk of falls and fractures in elderly patients receiving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is not different from that of patients receiving TCAs. The authors therefore evaluated postural sway in an older population of depressed patients randomly assigned to treatment with either nortriptyline or paroxetine and did not find any change in postural sway after 6 weeks' treatment with either antidepressant. Further studies with other SSRIs are needed.
Mamo
David C
DC
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA, USA. mamodc@msx.upmc.edu
Pollock
Bruce G
BG
Mulsant
Benoit
B
Houck
Patricia R
PR
Bensasi
Salem
S
Miller
Mark C
MC
Redfern
Mark S
MS
Reynolds III
Charles F
CF
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D009661:Nortriptyline; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors