Abstract

Amitriptyline (Tryptizol - MSD; Laroxyl - Roche; Saroten - Warner) has for some time been the biggest-selling ‘successor’ to imipramine.¹ The promotion by Merck, Sharp & Dohme of yet another tricyclic antidepressant drug, protriptyline (Concordin), suggests that they must believe it to have distinct advantages over the earlier drug which they also manufacture. Yet their own advertising material fails to present convincing grounds for this belief. The indications and contraindications for its use are virtually the same as those for amitriptyline and related substances.