Abstract

Background: Antidepressant drugs cause psychomotor impairment during treatment of depression and these psychomotor skills play important role in driving and other activities. Tianeptine is a novel antidepressant with different mechanism of action. Hence, the present study was planned to investigate its effect on psychomotor functions and compare with nortriptyline and to record the adverse drug reactions.

Methods: In a randomised, double blind placebo-controlled crossover study, single oral dose of nortriptyline and tianeptine was administered in 26 healthy volunteers. The objective psychometric tests included were: six digit cancellation test, digit symbol substitution test, critical flicker fusion test, arithmetic ability test, hand steadiness test and subjective parameters were visual analogue scale 1 and 2. The adverse drug reactions were also recorded. The tests were administered at 0, 2 & 4 hours post dose.

Results: Nortriptyline significantly impaired objective as well as subjective psychometric tests whereas tianeptine did not demonstrate any significant effects on both parameters. Dryness of mouth with nortriptyline and headache with tianeptine were the major side-effects.

Conclusion: Tianeptine 12.5mg single dose does not impair psychomotor performance.

Key words: Depression; antidepressive agents; psychomotor performance.