Abstract

Depressed patients tend to be forgetful, and for them a simple dosage regimen is particularly appropriate. The use of a single daily dosage depends on the drug having a relatively long (over 36 hours) half-life in the body and being tolerated in a single large dose. Many tricyclic anti-depressives fulfil these requirements provided that the single dose is given before the patient goes to bed. Unwanted effects such as dry mouth and blurred vision, which are troublesome during the day, are not a problem during sleep. The sedative actions of many of these drugs can help the insomniac depressed patient who might otherwise need a separate hypnotic.