The British Journal of Psychiatry (1965) 111: 1101-1103. doi: 10.1192/bjp.111.480.1101
© 1965 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by ROSE, J. T.
Right arrow Articles by WESTHEAD, T. T.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by ROSE, J. T.
Right arrow Articles by WESTHEAD, T. T.

A Comparison of Nortriptyline and Amitriptyline in Depression

JOHN T. ROSE M.D., D.P.M.1, M. R. LEAHY M.B., B.CH., B.A.O., D.P.M.2, IAN C. A. MARTIN M.B., CH.B., D.P.M.3, and T. T. WESTHEAD M.B., CH.B., D.P.M.4

1 Consultant Psychiatrist, Walton Hospital, Liverpool
2 Consultant Psychiatrist, St. James's Hospital, Leeds
3 Senior Registrar, St. James's Hospital, Leeds
4 Registrar, Walton Hospital, Liverpool

Nortriptyline was compared with amitriptyline in the treatment of 50 patients suffering from primary depressive disorders and classified as reactive and endogenous depressions. All patients received promazine hydrochloride in addition to specific anti-depressant therapy and were assessed initially and after 2 and 4 weeks treatment.

Comparison without diagnostic classification showed no significant difference in outcome between the two drugs, although amitriptyline was consistently more effective. The outcome of endogenous depressions treated with amitriptyline was significantly better than all other diagnostic groups; reactive depressions on this drug showed the least improvement but not significantly inferior to reactive and endogenous cases on nortriptyline, the latter two groups having almost identical outcomes. Side-effects were least numerous with nortriptyline and on the whole interfered little with treatment.

Submitted on January 4, 1965




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
C. BARBUI and M. HOTOPF
Amitriptyline v. the rest: still the leading antidepressant after 40 years of randomised controlled trials
The British Journal of Psychiatry, February 1, 2001; 178(2): 129 - 144.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Gen PsychiatryHome page
G. E. Murphy, A. D. Simons, R. D. Wetzel, and P. J Lustman
Cognitive Therapy and Pharmacotherapy: Singly and Together in the Treatment of Depression
Arch Gen Psychiatry, January 1, 1984; 41(1): 33 - 41.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Gen PsychiatryHome page
V. E. Ziegler, P. J. Clayton, and J. T. Biggs
A Comparison Study of Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline With Plasma Levels
Arch Gen Psychiatry, May 1, 1977; 34(5): 607 - 612.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Gen PsychiatryHome page
J. B. Morris and A. T. Beck
The Efficacy of Antidepressant Drugs: A Review of Research (1958 to 1972)
Arch Gen Psychiatry, May 1, 1974; 30(5): 667 - 674.
[Abstract] [PDF]