Abstract

A PROSPECTIVE COMPARITIVE STUDY ON TOLERABLITY AND SAFETY OF AMITRYPTILINE AND FLUOXETINE IN PATIENTS WITH DEPRESSION

Dr. Vasanth S.*, Dr. Sarojini R. and Dr. Elavarasi P.

Abstract

Depression is a disorder of public health importance, in terms of its prevalence, morbidity, mortality and economic burden. Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant group, its use has been declining due to their unfavorable side effect profile. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) were introduced with the aim of reducing the side effects and increasing the tolerability and they were believed to overcome the difficulties of TCA. We planned to study the tolerability and side effect profile of tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in patients with depression METHODOLOGY: Eighty clinically diagnosed patients of depression, after obtaining institutional ethical clearance and informed written consent from them, were divided in to two groups and they received amitriptyline and fluoxetine for a period of 8 weeks. Clinical assessment of Safety parameters of both antidepressants were done at the beginning of the study and on 2nd, 4th,, 6th, 8th weeks. The safety profile was assessed by comparing the adverse effects in the patients of both groups with a standard adverse effect checklist and based on previous literature for the study. The tolerability of the two antidepressants was assessed by calculating the number of patients presenting with adverse effects during the follow-ups in both the groups RESULTS: Fluoxetine showed better tolerability than Amitriptyline in patients with depression. Amitriptyline caused more adverse effects than fluoxetine. Anticholinergic side effects were seen more in the amitriptyline group than the fluoxetine group.

Keywords: Antidepressants, Fluoxetine, Amitriptyline, Safety, Tolerability.