Abstract
The antidepressant efficacy and side-effect profile of amitriptyline were compared to those of moclobemide, a reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor with selectivity for the type A isozyme. Forty nine patients with DSM-Ill major depression were randomly assigned to receive either amitriptyline or moclobemide. Thirty seven patients (amitriptyline n=l6, moclobemide n=21) completed the six week protocol, which was conducted under double blind conditions. The results indicated a comparable antidepressant time course and efficacy for the two treatments. Amitriptyline produced significantly more sedation and antimuscarinic side-eff ects. Moclobemide appears to be a well tolerated antidepressant without the liability to produce significant postural hypotension and without the need for a tyramine-poor diet.
