Korean J Psychopharmacol.  2000 Jun;11(2):151-159.

Comparison of the effects of tianeptine, amitriptyline and placebo on daytime sleepiness, performance and nocturnal sleep in healthy young adults

• Yoon JS
• Shin IS
• Lee SH
• Lee HY

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Tianeptine, a novel tricyclic antidepressant, is known to increase the pre-synaptic uptake of serotonin while paradoxically having antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. The purpose of this study was to get information on the effects of tianeptine on daytime sleepiness, performance and nocturnal sleep in healthy, young, adult volunteers.
METHODS
Twelve young healthy male volunteers visited the study center 1 day a week for 3 weeks. On each visit day, each subject received 1 of the 3 treatments with: tianeptine(12.5mg t.i.d.), amitriptyline(25mg b.i.d. and placebo at midday) or placebo(t.i.d.), in a double-blind, random latin square sequence, cross-over design. All the drugs and placebo were prepared in identical gelatin capsules. A battery of performance tests(digit cancellation, arithmatic addition, digit span, digit symbol substitution, word list memory), was carried out in the afternoons(at 1hr after the second dose). Subjective assessments of the daytime sleepiness and unwanted effects of drug were made, using a modified Epworth Sleepiness Scale and a modified Uscandinavian Kociety of Usypharmacology side-effects rating scale(UKU Scale), in late evenings (at 0.5 hr before the last dose). Sleep on the night of the treatment day was evaluated by a post-sleep questionnaire on rising the following morning.
RESULTS
Compared to placebo, tianeptine showed no evidence of impairment on any performance test and did not affect the daytime alertness/drowsiness level and nocturnal sleep. Amitriptyline, however, produced considerable impairment of performance, associated with severe daytime sleepiness. Also, amitriptyline significantly affected nocturnal sleep by quicker induction, more restful maintenance and longer period relative to placebo. Adverse events were significantly more often and severe after amitriptyline than after tianeptine or placebo treatments.
CONCLUSION
These results confirmed the previous observations that tianeptine is not accompanied by significant daytime sedation, nocturnal sleep change or performance impairment. And they also suggest that tianeptine could be a useful option for the depressive patient, in particular for the ambulatory out-patient or the elderly.

Keyword

Tianeptine; Amitriptyline; Daytime sleepiness; Performance; Nocturnal

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Amitriptyline*
Anti-Anxiety Agents
Capsules
Cross-Over Studies
Gelatin
Humans
Male
Outpatients
Surveys and Questionnaires
Serotonin
Volunteers
Young Adult*
Amitriptyline
Anti-Anxiety Agents
Capsules
Gelatin
Serotonin