Abstract
This paper reports on the effects of the daily administration of amitriptyline (50 mg) to normal young males. Effects on laboratory recorded sleep, home sleep, and mood were studied. Total sleep time was significantly increased throughout administration, while slow-wave sleep was increased and sleep latency decreased early during administration. D-time and D-time percent were decreased throughout administration, most prominently for the first days; there was a “rebound” increase after discontinuation of medication.
In these subjects, amitriptyline did not alter “depression” as measured by mood scales, but did produce a number of different complaints in the morning.
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This work was supported in part by National Institute of Mental Health Grant # MH 14520.
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Hartmann, E., Cravens, J. The effects of long term administration of psychotropic drugs on human sleep: III. The effects of amitriptyline. Psychopharmacologia 33, 185–202 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429087
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429087