NORTRIPTYLINE SIDE-EFFECTS DURING DOUBLE-BLIND, RANDOMIZED, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED MAINTENANCE THERAPY IN OLDER DEPRESSED-PATIENTS

The authors assessed the severity of nortriptyline side effects in old er patients with major depression during 12 months of double-blind the rapy. Data were front 40 patients completing 1 year of maintenance the rapy: 26 were on nortriptyline and 14 were on placebo. The authors det ected significant time-by-treatment interactions for various side effe cts (all greater in treated patients), but not for overall side effect s score. Clinically, these differences were judged to be minor and cor rectable. On the other hand total side effect scores, physical tiredne ss, and subjective sleep disturbance covaried significantly with Hamil ton Depression scores regardless of treatment assignment Somatic worry , tiredness, and sleep complaints appeared to reflect residual depress ion rather than treatment assignment.