A controlled double-blind study of femoxetine and amitriptyline in patients with endogenous depression

• Published in: Pharmacopsychiatria Vol. 15; no. 5; p. 164
• Main Authors: Reebye, P N, Yiptong, C, Samsoon, J, Schulsinger, F, Fabricius, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01-09-1982
• Subjects: Amitriptyline - adverse effects; Amitriptyline - therapeutic use; Antidepressive Agents - adverse effects; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Clinical Trials as Topic; Depressive Disorder - drug therapy; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Piperidines - adverse effects; Piperidines - therapeutic use; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• ISSN: 0720-4280
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1019531

The new selective serotonin (5-HT)-uptake inhibitor femoxetine was compared with amitriptyline in a double-blind clinical trial comprising 77 depressed patients. The depressive symptoms were evaluated with the Hamilton rating scale, and a global clinical evaluation. Both drugs showed an antidepressive effect and no significant differences were found. Femoxetine induced a significantly lower frequency of dry mouth and blurred vision; this difference is presumably due to the weak anticholinergic effect of this substance. A small but significant weight loss was observed in the femoxetine group but not in the amitriptyline group.