Clovoxamine in the treatment of depressed outpatients: A double-blind, parallel-group comparison against amitriptyline and placebo

• Published in: Comprehensive psychiatry 1990-07, Vol.31 (4), p.307-314
• Main Authors: Gelenberg, Alan J., Wojcik, Joanne D., Falk, William E., Spring, Bonnie, Brotman, Andrew W., Galvin-Nadeau, Maureen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Amitriptyline - adverse effects; Amitriptyline - therapeutic use; Antidepressive Agents; Biological and medical sciences; Depressive Disorder - drug therapy; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neuropharmacology; Oximes - adverse effects; Oximes - therapeutic use; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• ISSN: 0010-440X; 1532-8384
• DOI: 10.1016/0010-440X(90)90037-S

In a double-blind, random-assignment, parallel-group trial, outpatients with major depression received either the new antidepressant clovoxamine, the tricyclic amitriptyline, or placebo for 6 weeks. By an “improvement” criterion of 50% or greater improvement in the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) total score, 88% of clovoxamine completers improved versus 75% with amitriptyline and 43% with placebo; however, due to small numbers, the differences failed to reach statistical significance. Diminished salivary flow was significantly greater with amitriptyline, as were complaints of dry mouth, somnolence, dizziness, and headache. Nausea and vomiting were more common in the clovoxamine-treated group. With amitriptyline, but not with clovoxamine, memory performance declined over a month. However, psychomotor performance was not affected.