Double-blind study of the efficacy and safety of milnacipran and imipramine in elderly patients with major dipressive episode |
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Authors: | J. Tignol,J. Pujol-Domenech,J. P. Chartres,J.-M. L ger,Y. Pl tan,I. Tonelli,A. Tournoux,N. Pezous |
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Affiliation: | J. Tignol,J. Pujol-Domenech,J. P. Chartres,J.-M. Léger,Y. Plétan,I. Tonelli,A. Tournoux,N. Pezous |
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Abstract: | The novel antidepressant agent milnacipran is a dual and equipotent serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor. The aim of this double-blind study was to compare the efficacy and safety of milnacipran (50 mg twice daily) with that of imipramine (50 mg twice daily) in elderly patients with major depressive episode. A total of 219 patients were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of double-blind treatment with either milnacipran or imipramine; 72 patients withdrew from the study. At the end of treatment no significant differences were found between milnacipran and imipramine in antidepressant efficacy. A significantly greater number of side-effects, particularly anticholinergic effects, was observed in the imipramine group. Milnacipran may be preferable to imipramine in elderly depressed patients, as it provides the same antidepressant activity as imipramine with a lower incidence of side-effects, and does not impair cognitive ability. |
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Keywords: | depression elderly milnacipran imipramine |
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