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A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled assessment of nortriptyline's side‐effects during 3‐year maintenance treatment in elderly patients with recurrent major depression
Author(s) -
Marraccini Rory L.,
Reynolds Charles F.,
Houck Patricia R.,
Miller Mark D.,
Frank Ellen,
Perel James M.,
Cornes Cleon,
Mazumdar Sati,
Kupfer David J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199912)14:12<1014::aid-gps52>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - nortriptyline , placebo , depression (economics) , medicine , double blind , psychiatry , amitriptyline , alternative medicine , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
The authors assessed the severity of nortriptyline's side‐effects in older patients with recurrent major depression during placebo‐controlled, double‐blind maintenance therapy. Data were from 37 patients completing 2–3 years of maintenance therapy; 29 were on nortriptyline and eight were on placebo. The authors detected a time‐by‐treatment interaction for dry mouth (greater in nortriptyline‐treated patients), but no increased association of nortriptyline with constipation, weight change or orthostatic symptoms. Heart rate was consistently higher in nortriptyline‐maintained patients as compared with placebo. The total ‘side‐effect’ score on the Asberg Rating Scale, as well as complaints of physical tiredness, daytime sleepiness and nocturnal sleep disturbance, were related primarily to residual depression rather than treatment with nortriptyline. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.