Tricyclic antidepressant prescribing habits: a comparison of family physicians and psychiatrists.

Because of persistent evidence that tricyclic antidepressants are generally underprescribed in respect to dosage and duration of treatment, a large group of family physicians attending a postgraduate course were asked specifically about their prescribing habits for these drugs. Their responses were compared to a group of psychiatrists. This study documented a tendency among family physicians, when compared to psychiatrists, to prescribe too low a dosage of tricyclics for treatment, to be hesitant to increase the dosage, and to discontinue maintenance prematurely. The family physicians overwhelmingly expressed the belief that 75 mg per day of imipramine or amitriptyline was sufficient for treatment maintenance, whereas 150 mg per day is ordinarily considered the minimum effective dosage. Proper use of tricyclic medication with a discussion of side effects and potential hazards is presented.