A double-blind controlled trial of amineptine versus trimipramine in depression

A double-blind controlled trial was carried out in 50 depressed out-patients to compare the effectiveness and tolerability of amineptine (200 mg per day) with that of trimipramine (75 mg per day). Patients were allocated at random to receive one or other of the trial drugs over a period of 45 days. Assessments were made before, during and after treatment of a number of target symptom clusters. Whilst overall response to treatment was the same with both drugs, trimipramine was superior in those patients presenting with anxiety and insomnia. Amineptine, however, was more effective not only against depressive mood and psychomotor retardation, but also against loss of libido, hypochondriacal features and social withdrawal. Both drugs were relatively well tolerated, but trimipramine had a sedative effect which proved troublesome in some patients.