Citalopram versus mianserin. A controlled, double-blind trial in depressed patients

In a double-blind trial, comprising 60 endogenously depressed patients, citalopram was compared with mianserin. Fifty-eight patients completed the 6-week trial period with ratings and side effect recordings at weeks 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6. Both drugs were administered as a single evening dose, 20-80 mg (most frequently 40 mg) for citalopram and 60-120 mg (most frequently 90 mg) for mianserin. CPRS (Subscale for Depression) total scores showed a highly significant reduction in both groups with a significant difference in favour of citalopram after 1 and 2 weeks. Based on the Global Evaluation of the Severity of Illness there were 18 complete and three partial responders on citalopram and 13 complete and four partial responders on mianserin. Six patients on citalopram and one patient on mianserin showed mild or moderate side effects, but no cardiovascular side effects were recorded. The authors conclude that citalopram is a safe antidepressant drug, presumably better than mianserin.