Comparative study of venlafaxine and amitriptyline in the treatment of aged depression

Objective:To explore the efficacy and side effects of venlafaxine in the treatment of aged depression.Methods:70 pa-tients with aged depression were randomly divided into the treatment groups of venlafaxine or amitriptyline,and treated with venlafaxine or amitriptyline respectively for six weeks.Hamilton depressive scale(HAMD) was used to assess the efficacy,and treatment emergert symptom scale(TESS) was to observe the side effects.Results:The marked improvement rate of venlafaxine group was 80%,and amitriptyline group was 77.14%,there was similar efficacy between two groups,but the efficacy of venlafaxine is faster than amitriptyline and the side effects were less and milder in venlafaxine group.Conclusion:Venlafaxine is a safe and effective drug in the treatment of aged depressin,it's efficacy is faster and its side effects are less and milder.