Controlled trial of nomifensin (HOE 984) and viloxazine in the treatment of depression in the elderly

Abstract

The new antidepressant nomifensin (Hoechst 36984), a drug which showed less cardiotoxicity than tricyclics, was compared in a single-blind comparative trial with viloxazine. Forty elderly depressed patients were treated during four weeks. Nomifensin, N=21, 75 mg/day; viloxazine, N=19, 150 mg/day). Antidepressant effects were assessed by the Hamilton Rating Scale (HRS) for depression, and physical disability, by the Northwestern University Disability Scales. The HRS disclosed statistically significant improvement with both treatments. However, the scores in the nomifensin group fell distinctly form the second week on (P less than 0.01). There were no side effects reported spontaneously by the patients. Sinus tachycardia was recorded in two instances (one viloxazine and one nomifensin patient).