A double‐blind clinical trial of fluvoxamine and imipramine in patients with primary depression

Abstract

Abstract Fluvoxamine, a new serotonin‐reuptake inhibitor, and imipramine were compared under double‐blind conditions in 36 unipolar and bipolar depressed inpatients. Both drugs produced significant reductions in depressive symptomatology over a 4–6‐wk course of treatment, with the greater part of the improvement occurring in the first 2 wk. No statistically significant differences were obtained between the two drugs. Adverse reactions, particularly anticholinergic ones, were much less frequently observed in the fluvoxamine group. No clinically significant laboratory abnormalities were reported for either treatment; but minor ECG irregularities were seen under both treatments. The findings generally correspond to results obtained in previous comparative clinical trials.