Subjective Side-Effects of Amitriptyline and Lithium in Affective Disorders

Abstract

The prevalence of subjective side-effects was studied in 258 control subjects, 65 drug-free depressive in-patients and 94 Li-treated out-patients. Drug-free depressives reported more side-effects than both control subjects and Li-treated patients. Side-effects were studied during amitriptyline therapy. Depressed patients on no medication complained of only slightly fewer side-effects than when they had received amitriptyline. There was a significant positive correlation of Hamilton depression scores and side-effects scores at baseline. Side-effects and affective morbidity over 2 yr were investigated in 94 patients with recurrent affective disorders on long-term Li therapy. Psychological variables were also investigated in 74 of these patients. Subjective side-effects reported by Li-treated patients including those specific to Li were related to their affective morbidity and personality variables. Patients on Li complained significantly less of headache and unilateral headache than controls.