COMPARISON OF NORTRIPTYLINE AND BUPROPION IN MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of notriptyline and buproprion in treating major depressive disorders in elderly patients. Design: Randomized double blind controlled study with 8 weeks follow up. Place and Duration of Study: The out patient clinics at the Ghaem and Avicenna Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Mashad from March 2005 to September 2006. Subjects and Methods: We selected 52 elderly outpatients who had non psychotic major depressive disorder according DSMIV criteria and they were allocated to two group who received nortryiptiline (at a dose of up to 150 mg per day) and bupropion (at a dose of up to 225mg per day). We used Hamilton Rating Scale for depression (HRSD; Hamilton, 1959), Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE), and The Geriatric Depression Scale-30 (GDS-30) on the first visit. Results: Both treatments were efficacious, and there were no statistically significant differences between the two antidepressant classes with respect to efficacy (pvalue<0.05). Conclusions: For elderly depressed patients who completed a 8 week treatment trial, both nortriptyline and bupropion exhibited good efficacy and few side effects. There was no difference between groups in the response rate or the severity of side effects due to drug treatment. Key words: Major Depression, Elderly, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale 30 (GDS-30).