Effect of low-dose amitriptyline on globus pharyngeus and its side effects

Table 1 Demographic and baseline characteristics of the study patients

Variable	AMT group	Conventional group	P value
	n = 16	n = 14
Age (yr)	43.19 ± 10.96	42.93 ± 13.1	0.953
Gender (male/female)	6/10	5/9	1.000
BMI	21.54 ± 2.09	23.01 ± 3.49	0.166
Smoking habit	4 (18.75%)	3 (21.42%)	1.000
Alcohol consumption	6 (37.5%)	5 (35.71%)	1.000
Symptom duration (yr)	1.44 ± 0.66	1.54 ± 0.89	0.731
GETS	5.44 ± 1.63	5.71 ± 1.38	0.623
PSQI	8.75 ± 4.68	8.71 ± 5.27	0.984

Values are represented as the mean ± SD. AMT: Amitriptyline; BMI: Body mass index; GETS: Glasgow Edinburgh Throat Scale; PSQI: Pittsburgh sleep quality index.

Table 2 Change in glasgow edinburgh throat scale score and Pittsburgh sleep quality index in patients treated with amitriptyline vs pantoprazole and incidence of side effects n (%)

Variable	AMT group	Conventional group	P value
	n = 16	n = 14
GETS score
Baseline	5.44 ± 1.63	5.71 ± 1.38	0.623
3 d	3.69 ± 1.141	5.64 ± 1.28	0.000
10 d	2 ± 1.711	5.36 ± 1.22	0.000
4 wk	1.25 ± 1.841	3.79 ± 2.331	0.002
Treatment response	12 (75)	5 (35.71)	0.004
PSQI	4.19 ± 2.07	8.5 ± 4.97	0.008
Adverse effect
Dry mouth	12 (75)	4 (28.5)	0.026
Sleepiness	11 (68.8)	2 (14.3)	0.004
Dizziness	4 (25)	1 (7.1)	0.336
Constipation	3 (18.8)	1 (7.1)	0.602
Palpitations	1 (6.3)	0 (0)	1.000
Malaise	1 (6.3)	0 (0)	1.000

¹Statistically significant difference from baseline, P < 0.05 between the two groups. AMT: Amitriptyline; GETS: Glasgow Edinburgh Throat Scale; PSQI: Pittsburgh sleep quality index.

Table 3 Changes in social functioning-36 subscale scores in patients treated with amitriptyline vs Pantoprazole

Variable		Baseline	Week 4	P value
PF	AMT	95 ± 11.4	95.94 ± 11.14	0.945
	Conventional	93.93 ± 7.12	95.71 ± 4.75
RP	AMT	64.06 ± 37.6	81.25 ± 26.611	0.929
	Conventional	66.07 ± 37.48	80.36 ± 28.041
BP	AMT	89.38 ± 16.52	90.63 ± 14.55	0.498
	Conventional	85.57 ± 20.68	86.29 ± 19.96
GH	AMT	56.75 ± 20.92	73 ± 17.571	0.044
	Conventional	49.86 ± 22.49	58.71 ± 19.571
VT	AMT	70.63 ± 18.15	88.44 ± 7.011	0.024
	Conventional	71.79 ± 24.7	73.21 ± 24.39
SF	AMT	75 ± 18.25	92.97 ± 13.671	0.049
	Conventional	77.68 ± 18.46	81.25 ± 17.511
RE	AMT	68.76 ± 35.42	79.18 ± 23.961	0.384
	Conventional	61.91 ± 41.05	69.05 ± 38.04
MH	AMT	68.75 ± 15.68	83.5 ± 101	0.005
	Conventional	65.43 ± 19.32	69.14 ± 15.72

¹Statistically significant difference compared with baseline, P < 0.05 between the two groups. AMT: Amitriptyline; PF: Physical functioning; RP: Role-physical; BP: Bodily pain; GH: General health; VT: Vitality; SF: Social functioning; RE: Role-emotional; MH: Mental health.