The Course of Adverse Effects of Nortriptyline and Venlafaxine in Elderly Patients with Major Depression

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate tolerability and course of adverse effects of antidepressants in elderly patients and to study the association between number and severity of adverse effects and age, physical comorbidity, antidepressant dose. and depression severity.

DESIGN

Double-blind, randomized controlled trial followed by an open treatment phase of 3 years.

SETTING

Psychiatric hospital in the Netherlands.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighty-one elderly depressed inpatients.

INTERVENTION

Patients were treated with venlafaxine or nortriptyline.

MEASUREMENTS

Frequency and severity of 43 individual adverse effects were assessed using the Symptom, Sign, Side-Effect Checklist. Severity of depression was assessed using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale.

RESULTS

Both antidepressants were tolerated well, with no differences in clinical effectiveness, and most adverse effects decreased with time. The number and severity of adverse effects was not related to age or physical comorbidities. There was a significant relationship between the severity of depression and the severity of adverse effects, although the relationship between the dose of the antidepressant and the severity of the adverse effects was of only borderline statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Elderly patients tolerated venlafaxine and nortriptyline well, and most adverse effects decreased with time as the depression improved. Age and physical comorbidities were not related to number and severity of adverse effects.