A double‐blind comparison of citalopram (Lu 10–171) and amitriptyline in depressed patients

Abstract

In a controlled, clinical, multicentre trial comprising a total of 43 patients (17 men and 26 women) citalopram was compared double-blindly with amitriptyline. Nineteen patients of each group were classified as endogeneously depressed, whereas four patients of the citalopram group and one of the amitriptyline group were classified as non-endogenously depressed. The patients were seriously ill with a high frequency of previous depressive episodes and of mental disorders among their closest relatives. Thirteen of the patients in either group had received antidepressants without satisfactory effect before entry into the trial. Each patient was treated for a period of at least 3 weeks with daily citalopram doses of 30-60 mg or daily amitriptyline doses of 75-225 mg. A statistically significant reduction of MADRS scores (total scores as well as each of the 10 individual items) was recorded in both groups. The only difference between the groups was a trend towards a better effect on sleep disturbances in the amitriptyline group. Side-effects were recorded more frequently in the amitriptyline group than in the citalopram group, global assessment of side effects being significantly different in favour of citalopram. It is concluded that citalopram is an effective and safe drug in the treatment of endogenous depression - probably as efficacious as amitriptyline, but with fewer side effects.

Comparison of the tolerability and efficacy of citalopram and?amitriptyline in elderly depressed patients treated in general practice

“…Double-blind comparison trials have shown it to have therapeutic effects comparable to traditional antidepressants with significantly better safety and tolerability [Shaw et al, 1986;Danish University Antidepressant Group, 1986;de Wilde et al, 1985;Gravem et al, 1987].…”

Enzymatic resolution of a quaternary stereogenic centre as the key step in the synthesis of (S)-(+)-citalopram

“…Optical rotations were measured using a Perkin-Elmer 241 polarimeter and specific rotations are quoted in units of 10 À1 deg cm 2 /g. 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra were obtained with TMS (tetramethylsilane) as internal standard using a Bruker AC-300 ( 1 H 300 MHz and 13 C 75.5 MHz) spectrometer. Mass spectra were recorded on a Hewlett-Packard 1100 LC/MSD.…”

“…1 It was shown that almost the entire inhibition activity resides in the (S)-(+)-enantiomer. 2 3 The preparation of the single enantiomer has been carried out by the stereoselective crystallization of the diastereomeric salts of the diol (±)-2 with (+)-di-p-toloyltartaric acid or by the formation of the diastereomeric esters with (+) and ())-a-methoxy-a-trifluoro-methylphenylacetyl chloride and subsequent crystallization or chromatographic separation by HPLC.…”

Guidelines of the Polish Psychiatric Association – Wroclaw Division, the Polish Society of Family Medicine and the College of Family Physicians in Poland for diagnosis and treatment of depressive disorders in primary health care

“…as research suggest, patients' expectations for the behavior of a physician are different. according to zimmer- Paroxetine 20 mg [76] moclobemide 300 mg (i-mao-a) [77] sertraline 50 mg [78] trazodone 150 mg (sari) [79] Venlafaxine 75 mg (snri) [80] amitriptyline 75 mg (tCa) [81] Clomipramine 150 mg (tCa) [82] opipramol 200 mg (tCa) [83] doxepine 100 mg (tCa) [84] Vortioxetine 10 mg (sms) [85] Bupropion 150 mg (ndri) [86] man et al, the importance of patients' expectations is as follows: 1) the presence of mental health symptoms (e.g. optimism, vigor, self-confidence); 2) sense of normality; 3) return to normal functioning at work, home; 4) the feeling of emotional control; 5) relationships with family and friends and the ability to enjoy them; 6) the lack of symptoms of depression -as the last element of the psychopathological picture [87].…”