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Fluoxetine versus trimipramine in the treatment of depression in geriatric patients.

Wehmeier PM, Kluge M, Maras A, Riemann D, Berger M, Kohnen R, Dittmann RW, Gattaz WF

Lilly Deutschland, Bad Homburg, Germany.

INTRODUCTION: Fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and trimipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), were compared in terms of efficacy and tolerability in a six-week, parallel group, double-blind pilot study in 41 geriatric patients with major depression (61 - 85 years old). METHOD: The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17), the Montgomery-Asberg Rating Scale (MADRS), the Adjective Mood Scale (Bf-S), the Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and the Patients Global Impression (PGI) were used to measure changes in depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Improvement with treatment was found on all scales. Efficacy and tolerability were similar in both groups. No statistically significant differences were found. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that fluoxetine and trimipramine are comparable in terms of efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of major depression in geriatric patients.

Published 11 February 2005 in Pharmacopsychiatry, 38(1): 13-6.
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