Am J Psychiatry 1978; 135:722-724
Copyright © 1978 by American Psychiatric Association
Anticholinergic activity of two tricyclic antidepressants
B Blackwell, A Stefopoulos, P Enders, R Kuzma and A Adolphe
Using a double-blind crossover Latin square design, the authors evaluated
the peripheral anticholinergic and central nervous system effects of three
dose levels of two tricyclic antidepressants in female volunteers. Results
showed that 5 hours after drug administration, desipramine (50 and 100 mg)
caused significantly less reduction in salivation than did amitriptyline.
Amitriptyline produced more sedation (Clyde Mood Scale) and a greater
number of subjective complaints than did desipramine. These results are
consistent with anticholinergic profiles from animal experiments and
suggest that clinically meaningful differences may exist among tricyclic
antidepressants.
