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A multicentre, double-blind, amitriptyline-controlled study of mirtazapine in patients with major depressionEast Yorkshire Community Healthcare, De la Pole Hospital, Willerby, Hull HU10 6ED
Andrew Duncan Clinic, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh
Leverndale Hospital, Glasgow
Department of Clinical Research, Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries
Department of Psychological Medicine, Fairfield General Hospital, Bury
Department of Psychiatry, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
Background: the efficacy and tolerability of the new antidepressant mirtazapine were evaluated in a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, amitriptyline-controlled, 5 week clinical study. Method: 156 patients with a DSM-III diagnosis of major depressive episode and 21-item Hamilton Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression (HPRSD) score
Key Words: mirtazapine (Org 3770) • amitriptyline • antidepressants • major depression
Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 10, No. 3,
235-240 (1996) This article has been cited by other articles:
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18, were randomized to treatment with either mirtazapine 20-60 mg/day or amitriptyline 75-225 mg/day. Results: mirtazapine and amitriptyline were equally effective in reducing depressive symptoms, as assessed by the 17-item HPRSD and MADRS scales. Mirtazapine was better tolerated than amitriptyline, with fewer drop-outs due to adverse events and lower incidences of adverse events both at the beginning and at the end of the trial. Conclusion: this study shows that mirtazapine is as effective as amitriptyline in treating major depression, while at the same time better tolerated. 
