A double‐blind comparative study of the clinical efficacy of fluvoxamine and chlorimipramine.

Abstract

1 We report the results of a comparative clinical trial of a new antidepressant drug fluvoxamine (a specific re‐uptake inhibitor of 5‐ hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT)) with chlorimipramine. Thirty‐two patients with mixed depression received one or the other drug at the same daily dosage of 150 mg. 2 In both drug groups there was an overall clinically significant improvement for all items on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (67% improvement in both groups). 3 In the chlorimipramine group there were more digestive symptoms and anticholinergic effects; the difference with the fluvoxamine group approached statistical significance. 4 No clinically important effects of either treatment were observed on heart‐rate or blood pressure. 1983 The British Pharmacological Society