Differences in effect between nomifensine and nortriptyline

A double-blind study comparing the effects of nomifensine and nortriptyline, which was carried out exclusively on outpatients with retarded depressions, showed nomifensine to have a distinctive antidepressive and activating effect. 40 patients (17 male and 23 female) with either endogenous, endogenous/psychogenic or psychogenic depression were divided into two treatment groups (20 patients to each group). During the 21-day study, all patients were given three 50 mg capsules of nomifensine or nortriptyline per day. With the aid of a depression scale, a significant improvement in the psychic symptoms was noted both in the nomifensine and the nortriptyline group. There was no evidence of a significant difference in the two drugs. The data obtained from the dropouts suggest that nomifensine had a better effect. From the results of the study, it can be concluded that nomifensine is suitable for the treatment of patients with retarded depressions.