Comparison of effects of desipramine and amitriptyline on EEG sleep of depressed patients

Despite their widespread use, there are few data concerning the effects of tricyclic antidepressants on EEG sleep in depression. The present study documented the effects of desipramine (DMI, n = 17) and amitriptyline (AT, n = 16) upon EEG sleep in hospitalized depressed patients as part of a double-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychopharmacologia 1985, Vol.85 (1), p.14-22
Main Authors: SHIPLEY, J. E, KUPFER, D. J, GRIFFIN, S. J, DEALY, R. S, COBLE, P. A, MCEACHRAN, A. B, GROCHOCINSKI, V. J, ULRICH, R, PEREL, J. M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Amitriptyline - pharmacology
Amitriptyline - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Depression - drug therapy
Depression - physiopathology
Depression - psychology
Desipramine - pharmacology
Desipramine - therapeutic use
Double-Blind Method
Electroencephalography
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neuropharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease)
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopharmacology
Sleep - drug effects
Sleep, REM - drug effects
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Summary:Despite their widespread use, there are few data concerning the effects of tricyclic antidepressants on EEG sleep in depression. The present study documented the effects of desipramine (DMI, n = 17) and amitriptyline (AT, n = 16) upon EEG sleep in hospitalized depressed patients as part of a double-blind protocol involving 28 days of active treatment. Compared to placebo, patients receiving DMI showed somewhat worsened sleep continuity, particularly after 1 week of administration when the dose was 150 mg/day. On the other hand, sleep architecture and REM measures showed a rapid suppression of REM sleep, and then partial tolerance for this effect was observed with continued administration of DMI for 3 weeks. DMI was a more potent suppressor of REM sleep, while AT was more sedative. Based on these differences in effects upon EEG sleep, a discriminant function was derived and resulted in a correct classification of 87.5% of AT cases and 76.5% of DMI cases. These results are discussed in terms of the differences in pharmacological profiles for uptake blockade and anticholinergic potency for these two compounds.
ISSN:0033-3158
1432-2072
DOI:10.1007/BF00427316