Viloxazine (Vivalan ICI) in depression: results of a field trial of 276 patients in neuropsychiatric practice

Abstract

276 ambulatory depressed patients were entered into a multicentered clinical study to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of viloxazine. Results from global assessment by the trialist showed that viloxazine monotherapy produced a good response in 83% of patients. Improvement has been seen in all grades of depression including the sad-depressed, inhibited-apathetic and masked-depressed syndrome. Only 38 patients did not improve on viloxazine and even including 46 withdrawals because of insufficient efficacy and/or side-effects, the clinical response with viloxazine exceeded by far the rate of spontaneous remission expected in depressive illness, thus reducing a major objection against open studies like this. This study also confirmed the rapid onset of drug effect; since as early as after 1 week of treatment, statistically significant improvements were seen even in severe forms of depression. As to the unwanted effects of therapy, viloxazine was again favourably assessed by trialists. Nausea and vomiting were the main side-effects reported and accounted for withdrawal in 8% of the original 276 patients. As expected from previous findings no change in cardiovascular function was observed. So it can be concluded from this open trial, that VIVALAN ICI is an effective antidepressant for use in out-patients. It produces a fairly rapid onset of action and has been generally well tolerated.