Maprotiline and Amitriptyline in the Treatment of Depressive Illness

Patients suffering from depressive illness were admitted to a double-blind trial comparing the efficacy and tolerability of maprotiline and amitriptyline. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by means of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (day 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28) and by the over-all assessments of investigator and patient at the end of the treatment. Tolerability and side-effects were evaluated by an over-all assessment and by a checklist of treatment signs and symptoms. Maprotiline was found to be markedly faster in its effect than amitriptyline. The effect of maprotiline was apparent in the majority of cases by the 4th day of treatment. The over-all improvement of patients on maprotiline was better than it was in those treated with amitriptyline, although this did not quite reach statistical significance. Tolerability was generally similar although it tended to favour maprotiline