A multi-centre general practitioner assessment of butriptyline hydrochloride ('Evadyne')

A multi-centre open study in general practice was carried out to assess the efficacy of and incidence of side-effects with the tricyclic antidepressant, butriptyline. Of a series of 153 patients with non-psychotic depression, with or without anxiety, 105 (69%) were judged as having a good or fair response to treatment with 75 mg to 150 mg butriptyline daily. Side-effects of an anticholinergic nature were seen in 13.7% of patients, but the incidence decreased to less than 4% in the 101 patients receiving treatment for over 7 weeks.