[Treatment of depression with intravenous infusions of clomipramine and maprotiline]

28 patients aged from 31 to 69 years with endogenous depression were studied. All cases were drug-resistant i.e. they did not improve after a treatment with tricyclic antidepressants and in four cases also after electroconvulsive therapy. The group were managed with intravenous infusions of clomipramine or maprotiline followed by oral administration of the drug. Clomipramine was given i.v. at doses 75-300 mg daily for 7 to 16 days and maprotiline at 75-200 mg daily for 6 to 20 days. Remission of depressive symptoms was observed in 43% of cases and the first signs of improvement were observed on tenth day of the treatment. Tolerance to both drugs given parenterally in majority of cases was satisfactory. Half of the group did not show any untoward events. The rest of the group displayed local tissue reactions, both increased and decreased blood pressure, weakness, drowsiness, anxiety, vertigo, hyperpyretic reactions. Four patients had the treatment discontinued because of local tissue reactions or increased blood pressure or hyperpyretic reactions.