Zimelidine: a placebo-controlled trial in depression

Twenty-eight hospital inpatients with a primary major depressive disorder were treated with either zimelidine or placebo. Patients were matched for age, sex, and initial severity of depression and assigned double blind to the treatment regimen. An initial dosage of 150 mg/day was used for up to 6 weeks. Zimelidine was significantly more effective in alleviating the symptoms of depression than placebo, with 82% of zimelidine and 25% of placebo patients showing clinical improvement. There were few complaints of severe side effects in zimelidine-treated patients, and few effects on the cardiovascular system. Two zimelidine-treated patients were withdrawn for suspected drug-related adverse events. Zimelidine was a safe, effective antidepressant in this group of patients.