A double-blind study of L-sulpiride versus amitriptyline in lithium-maintained bipolar depressives

Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1993 Dec;88(6):434-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1993.tb03487.x.

Abstract

A double-blind group comparison study of L-sulpiride and amitriptyline was carried out in 30 bipolar outpatients on maintenance treatment with lithium suffering from a major depressive recurrence. L-sulpiride showed equivalent antidepressant activity to amitriptyline at 4 weeks using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. However, the onset of action was faster in the L-sulpiride group, showing a significant improvement at 1 week in both anxiety-somatization and specific depression items, including depressed mood, feelings of guilt, work & activities and retardation. The incidence of anticholinergic side effects was significantly higher in the amitriptyline treatment group.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Ambulatory Care
  • Amitriptyline / administration & dosage
  • Amitriptyline / adverse effects
  • Amitriptyline / therapeutic use*
  • Bipolar Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Bipolar Disorder / psychology
  • Constipation / chemically induced
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lithium / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Inventory
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Sleep Stages
  • Sulpiride / administration & dosage
  • Sulpiride / adverse effects
  • Sulpiride / therapeutic use*
  • Tremor / chemically induced
  • Xerostomia / chemically induced

Substances

  • Amitriptyline
  • Sulpiride
  • Lithium