Comparison between a serotonin and a noradrenaline reuptake blocker in the treatment of depressed outpatients. A cross-over study.

Abstract

Seventy-five outpatients with major depressive disorder (RDC) were randomly referred to treatment with a dominant serotonin (5-HT) reuptake blocker (zimeldine, 100 mg, b.i.d. n = 40) or a dominant noradrenaline (NA) reuptake blocker (maprotiline, 75 mg, b.i.d. n = 35). Seven patients on each drug were non-responders after up to 4 weeks of treatment and were after a washout week crossed over to the other drug for up to another 8 weeks of treatment. There was a significant and similar improvement after 4 weeks of treatment with the second drug. After up to 8 weeks of treatment all patients but one in each group were much improved with the second drug. The existence of two biochemical subgroups of depression is discussed.

• Authors: C Nyström, T Hällström
• Journal: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica (Acta Psychiatr Scand) Vol. 75 Issue 4 Pg. 377-82 (Apr 1987) ISSN: 0001-690X [Print] United States
• PMID: 3035878 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anthracenes
• Receptors, Adrenergic
• Receptors, Serotonin
• Maprotiline
• Serotonin
• Zimeldine
• Norepinephrine

Topics

• Adult
• Animals
• Anthracenes (therapeutic use)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Depressive Disorder (drug therapy)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Hypothalamus (drug effects)
• Male
• Maprotiline (therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Norepinephrine (blood)
• Rats
• Receptors, Adrenergic (drug effects)
• Receptors, Serotonin (drug effects)
• Serotonin (blood)
• Synaptosomes (drug effects)
• Zimeldine (therapeutic use)