A double‐blind trial of mianserin and nomifensine in depressed outpatients.

Abstract

1 Following a seven day drug‐free period, 80 depressed outpatients were randomly allocated to receive mianserin 60 mg nocte or nomifensine 150 mg daily. Blindness was maintained by the use of a double‐dummy technique. 2 All measures of efficacy showed a trend in favour of mianserin throughout the four week trial, including the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS), the Beck Self‐rating Depression Inventory (BDI), the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and the Efficacy Index. 3 Significant advantages in efficacy for mianserin were observed at day 14 on the HDS and at days 7, 14 and 21 on the CGI. 4 Substantially more patients experienced marked or moderate improvement during treatment with mianserin than with nomifensine. Side‐effects were low with both drugs. 5 On the basis of the present trial and a previous comparison, mianserin appears to be a more effective antidepressant than nomifensine. 1983 The British Pharmacological Society