A comparison of the cardiac effects of mianserin and amitriptyline in man

In the course of a double-blind comparative trial of mianserin versus amitriptyline in the treatment of depressive illness, E.C.G. was recorded before and after three weeks of treatment in 27 female patients. Mianserin had no consistent effect on heart rate, PR interval, QRS width, or T wave amplitude. This is consistent with other data suggesting that mianserin lacks cardiotoxic effects. In contrast, amitriptyline treatment was associated with increases in heart rate and PR interval, and these effects were statistically significant in comparison to the mianserin group. This finding is consistent with the known cardiotoxicity of amitriptyline.