Imipramine and “ Drinamyl ” in Depressive Illness: A Comparative Trial

Abstract

This paper reports a controlled comparative trial of imipramine hydrochloride (“ tofranil ”), 50 mg. t.i.d., and “ drinamyl ” (dexamphetamine sulphate 5 mg. plus amylobarbitone sodium 50 mg.), 1 tablet t.i.d., in depressive illness. Each drug was given for three weeks to in-patients and day-patients at two hospitals. A self-controlled trial was completed by 78 subjects. Clinical assessments were made separately by two groups of psychiatrists. No difference was found between imipramine and drinamyl in their effect on the clinical manifestation of depression. Imipramine was significantly better than drinamyl in causing increase in weight. One group of observers found imipramine significantly better than drinamyl in reducing agitation and (on one test but not on another) in improving the overall clinical state. The other group found no significant difference between the drugs for any manifestation. These findings suggest the view that imipramine, although it may have some general value in depressive illness, has no specific effect on the clinical manifestation of depression. Evidence is presented to support the extension of this view to other “ antidepressive ” drugs. © 1964, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.