[A comparative clinical evaluation of the antidepressive activity of fluoxetine and fluvoxamine]

Comparative study of the peculiarities of clinical action of fluoxetine and fluvoxamine in 65 patients with endogenous depressions revealed their high efficiency (in 74.3% and 64.3% respectively). Fluoxetine was characterised by predominance of a stimulating effect from the first days of treatment as well as by relatively late manifestation of very thymoleptic and tranquilizing impact (during 3-4 weeks). Fluvoxamin displayed relatively uniform occurrence of separate clinical effects together with predominance and early appearance of antidepressive influence. On the basis of the comparison of the peculiarities of either clinical action of fluoxetine and fluvoxamin or their side effects with those of traditional antidepressive drugs (amitryptilin and ludiomil) the preferable indications for their prescription were determined. Thus fluoxetine was very good in treatment of apathetic-adynamic depressions while fluvoxamin was recommended for therapy of anxious and melancholic depressions. Antidepressants studied were ranked in the following way in terms of decrease of sedative effect and increase of stimulating action: amitryptilin, fluvoxamin, ludiomil, fluoxetine. The proper thymoleptic effect of fluoxetine and fluvoxamin exceeded the same effect of amitryptilin and ludiomil.