A double-blind study to compare trazodone with amitriptyline in depressed patients

50 depressed patients of whom approximately two-thirds were hospitalized during the early stages of treatment were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. The dosage of amitriptyline ranged from 75 to 150 mg/day and the dosage of trazodone ranged from 150 to 300 mg/day. 26 patients received amitriptyline and 24 received trazodone. Both drugs are effective antidepressants; trazodone has a more effective anxiolytic action; the side effect of dry mouth is more commonly experienced with amitriptyline.