Fluoxetine compared with imipramine in the treatment of inpatient depression. A multicenter trial

Fluoxetine and imipramine were compared in a six-week, double-blind, randomized trial in 118 men and women, ages 18 to 70 years, hospitalized for major depressive disorder. Treatment groups were comparable at baseline. Median maintenance doses were: fluoxetine, 80 mg/day; imipramine, 200 mg/day. Efficacy with fluoxetine and imipramine was comparable: none of the between-treatment differences was statistically significant. Mean +/- standard deviation baseline HAMD21 total scores and change (last-visit-carried-forward analysis), respectively, were fluoxetine, 28.0 +/- 5.3 and -8.5 +/- 9.9; imipramine, 27.0 +/- 5.8 and -11.9 +/- 9.0. Response and remission rates, respectively, were fluoxetine, 54.5 and 21.2%; imipramine, 60.0 and 34.3%. Discontinuations for adverse events were comparable (fluoxetine, 21.4%; imipramine, 22.6%). Common treatment-emergent events with fluoxetine were dry mouth (28.6%), constipation (17.9%), and somnolence (17.9%); those with imipramine were dry mouth (58.1%), constipation (32.3%), and headache (22.6%). Fluoxetine was as effective as imipramine in this population of inpatients.