Abstract
Forty-seven patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were treated in a 32 week, double blind, crossover trial of amitriptyline, desipramine, trazodone, and placebo. All drug regimens produced significant changes on pain measures relative to baseline, but only amitriptyline exceeded placebo. Amitriptyline was associated with a significant reduction in the number of painful/tender joints. Our study supports the efficacy of a moderate dose of amitriptyline as an adjunct drug for the treatment of pain in both depressed and nondepressed patients with RA.
Publication types
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Clinical Trial
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Controlled Clinical Trial
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Aged
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Amitriptyline / therapeutic use
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Antidepressive Agents / administration & dosage
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Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
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Depression / drug therapy
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Desipramine / therapeutic use
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Double-Blind Method
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Drug Therapy, Combination
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Pain / drug therapy*
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Random Allocation
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Trazodone / therapeutic use
Substances
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Antidepressive Agents
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Amitriptyline
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Desipramine
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Trazodone