Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) has been characterized by a combination of symptoms, affecting temporomandibular joint and/or chewing muscles. The two ordinary clinical TMD symptoms are the pain and dysfunction. Pain is usually a result of dysfunction and the emergency therapy has been directed to that control. Currently TMD investigations have recommending the use of antidepressants for support treatment of constant neuronic pain. Objective: The aim of this double blind study was to verify the efficiency of antidepressants (amitriptyline) in support treatment of TMD chronic pain. Methods: Twelve chronic pain TMD female voluntaries were divided in two groups treated for 14 days: group 1 – amitriptyline 25mg/day and group 2 – placebo. Pain and discomfort intensity were diary evaluated in analogical visual scale (AVS), for the follow periods: 7 days before the treatment (base line), 14 days during the treatment, 7 days after the treatment. Results: The data showed that there was significantly reduction of the pain and discomfort in the group 1 (75%), compared with group 2 (28%) on the three weeks after the base line (p< 0,01). Conclusions: The amitriptyline was an efficient alternative treatment of chronic pain in TMD patients. This study was approved by the Ethical Committee in Research # 111/2000.

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