SSRIs are more dangerous than tricyclic antidepressants in elderly patients.

Don’t buy it. It comes from a single observational study that brought up more questions than answers. More research is necessary to answer the question of comparative safety.

When recommending an antidepressant for an older patient, think about side effects, drug-disease interactions, drug-drug interactions, patient preferences, financial and formulary considerations, and other medical problems.

Always start LOW and go SLOW when initiating antidepressants. A good rule of thumb is to start with one-half the usual adult starting dose...or even less.