A double-blind controlled trial of the selective serotonin uptake inhibitor femoxetine and amitriptyline in depression

Abstract

The selective inhibitor of neuronal 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake, femoxetine, was compared to the tricyclic antidepressant, amitriptyline, in a double-blind randomized clinical study of 45 patients with depressive illness. During the treatment period of 6 weeks, femoxetine and amitriptyline appeared to be equally effective as antidepressants evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and by global ratings. No differences were observed between the therapeutic effect of femoxetine in patients with a depression of an endogenous nature and patients with non-endogenous depression. Side effects were less frequently reported and milder during femoxetine treatment.