Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Clinical Trial
. 1994 Apr;37(4):321-4.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1994.tb04284.x.

The effect of low dose lofepramine in depressed elderly patients in general medical wards

Affiliations
Clinical Trial

The effect of low dose lofepramine in depressed elderly patients in general medical wards

R S Tan et al. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1994 Apr.

Abstract

A double-blind randomised controlled trial of the effect of low dose lofepramine (70 mg once daily) against placebo was carried out on depressed elderly inpatients on general medical wards for the elderly, comparing measures of depression and side-effects between the randomised groups. Patients were identified for the study using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Brief Assessment Schedule Depression Cards (BASDEC). Sixty-three subjects were randomised: 46 patients completed the entire trial of 28 days treatment. BASDEC and GDS were administered on day 8 post-admission, and depressed patients were randomised double-blind to either low dose lofepramine (70 mg daily) (n = 23) or placebo (n = 23). Assessment of changes in depressive states were made using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) on days 8, 18 and 36 post-admission. Both groups improved by a similar amount during the trial. Lofepramine tended to be more effective than placebo in those patients who were more depressed (GDS > or = 18). On the other hand, subjects who were less depressed (i.e. GDS < 18) improved more on placebo than lofepramine. Low dose lofepramine may prove useful in moderately or severely depressed patients treated for only 4 weeks. However, low dose lofepramine is not indicated for mild (GDS 15-18) depression.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Age Ageing. 1972 Nov;1(4):233-8 - PubMed
    1. Br J Psychiatry. 1979 Apr;134:382-9 - PubMed
    1. J Affect Disord. 1982 Dec;4(4):355-63 - PubMed
    1. J Psychiatr Res. 1982-1983;17(1):37-49 - PubMed
    1. BMJ. 1992 Aug 15;305(6850):397 - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources