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

BOCCHETTA, ALBERTO;F. BERNARDI;C. BURRAI;M. PEDDITZI;DEL ZOMPO, MARIA

1993-01-01

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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 and activities and retardation. The incidence of anticholinergic side effects was significantly higher in the amitriptyline treatment group.