Alprazolam in older depressed inpatients.

Alprazolam, a triazolobenzodiazepine first developed as an anxiolytic, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of depression in several comparison studies with tricyclic antidepressants. This open label study examined the efficacy and safety of alprazolam in patients aged 56-78. Of 18 patients with evaluable data, 12 were responders (improvement greater than or equal to 50% on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale); 4 patients were partial responders (HAM-D improvement of 25%-49%); and 2 patients were nonresponders. Initial drowsiness was the only side effect observed.