A double-blind controlled study of viloxazine and imipramine in depression

Summary

Fifty-nine depressed patients entered a double-blind, between patient comparison of viloxazine hydrochloride (300 mg./day expressed as base) and imipramine hydro-chloride (150 mg./day expressed as salt). Twenty-nine patients took viloxazine and 30 imipramine. Depression was assessed at weekly intervals, using the Hamilton Scale over a period of 6 weeks, and both drugs produced a statistically significant antidepressant effect. No difference emerged between the response to the two agents. Imipramine was associated with a significantly higher incidence of side-effects than viloxazine and they were more persistent. Imipramine produced a mean increase in weight over 6 weeks of 5.9 kg. whereas viloxazine produced a rise of only 2.4 kg. Viloxazine produced few anticholinergic side-effects; imipramine, on the other hand, was associated with frequent and persistent side-effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, disturbed micturition and constipation. Drowsiness was not seen with viloxazine but was seen in over half the patients on imipramine. It is concluded that, whereas viloxazine has antidepressant properties equal to those of imipramine, it has a much lower incidence of side-effects, and what side-effects it does have are transient.

Key words: :

• Depression
• antidepressive agents
• viloxazine
• imipramine