Critical Review of Tricyclic Antidepressant Use in Children and Adolescents

doi:10.1097/00004583-199905000-00012

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Volume 38, Issue 5, May 1999, Pages 513-516

https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199905000-00012 Get rights and content

ABSTRACT

Objectives

To provide a critical review of the role of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) medications in children and adolescents.

Method

Multiple resources including a Medline search (1966–1998) were used. Results: There were few double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of TCAs, and even fewer with positive results. Also, potentially serious cardiovascular side effects have been described.

Conclusion

The future therapeutic role of TCAs for children and adolescents needs to be seriously weighed against lethality of overdose, the unresolved issue of possible sudden unexplained death, and the availability of safer and easier to monitor medications. Ongoing future research on heart rate variability and epidemiology of psychotropic medication-related deaths will address developmental aspects of TCA use.

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Special SectionCritical Review of Tricyclic Antidepressant Use in Children and Adolescents

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Method

Conclusion

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

Psychiatr Clin North Am

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

Sudden death in children treated with a tricyclic antidepressant

Med Lett Drugs Ther

School phobia: a therapeutic trial with clomipramine and short-term outcome

Br J Psychiatry

Sudden death in children treated with a tricyclic antidepressant

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

Estimation of the association between desipramine and the risk for sudden death in 5- to 14-year old children

J Clin Psychiatry

Clomipramine hydrochloride in childhood and adolescent obsessive compulsive disorder: a multicenter trial

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

Treatment of childhood hyperactivity with desipramine: plasma drug concentration, cardiovascular effects, plasma and urinary catecholamine levels, and clinical response

Clin Pharmacol Ther

Special Section
Critical Review of Tricyclic Antidepressant Use in Children and Adolescents