A controlled double-blind study of femoxetine and amitriptyline in patients with endogenous depression

The new selective serotonin (5-HT)-uptake inhibitor femoxetine was compared with amitriptyline in a double-blind clinical trial comprising 77 depressed patients. The depressive symptoms were evaluated with the Hamilton rating scale, and a global clinical evaluation. Both drugs showed an antidepressive effect and no significant differences were found. Femoxetine induced a significantly lower frequency of dry mouth and blurred vision; this difference is presumably due to the weak anticholinergic effect of this substance. A small but significant weight loss was observed in the femoxetine group but not in the amitriptyline group.