Comparison of trazodone and mianserin in depressive illness

In a multi-centre study, the antidepressant efficacy and incidence of on-therapy events of trazodone (100 to 400 mg daily) and mianserin (30 to 120 mg daily) was compared using a double-blind pre-determined randomized parallel group design in depressed patients unresponsive to placebo after a 7-day screening period. Of the 111 patients who entered the study, 27 patients were withdrawn or defaulted. The withdrawal rate was similar between the treatment groups. The results of depression rating scale assessments showed that trazodone and mianserin were similar to each other for efficacy in patients judged to be suffering from severe or mild/moderate depression whether of the endogenous or reactive type. For all on-therapy events, there were no major differences between the treatments, with drowsiness being the most frequently reported side-effect.