A comparison of the effects of trazodone and amitriptyline on skills performance by geriatric subjects

Fifteen healthy adults, aged 60 years and older, participated in a double-blind, crossover study of trazodone in comparison with amitriptyline and placebo. A battery of laboratory tests was used to measure drug effects on information processing, attention, and visual-motor skills. Amitriptyline 50 mg impaired vigilance and tracking performance and increased drowsiness. Trazodone 100 mg impaired only the most difficult tracking task. This study demonstrates that cognition and performance are less adversely affected in geriatric subjects by trazodone than by amitriptyline beginning 90 minutes after a single-dosage trial.