Comparative studies with milnacipran and tricyclic
antidepressants in the treatment of patients with major depression: a
summary of clinical trial results.
Kasper S, Pletan Y, Solles A, Tournoux A.
Department of General Psychiatry
University of Vienna, Austria.
Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 1996 Sep;11 Suppl 4:35-9
Abstract
Milnacipran is a novel antidepressant agent which
selectively inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline. Seven
randomized, double-blind trials with a comparable design have compared
the efficacy and tolerability of milnacipran with that of tricyclic
antidepressants (TCAs) in patients with major depression. At a dose of
50 mg twice a day, milnacipran therapy is associated with a response
rate (50% reduction in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale) of 64%. The
rate of response to TCAs in these studies was 67%. In contrast to the
TCAs, milnacipran was very well tolerated by the patients. The only
adverse event that occurred more frequently in milnacipran-treated
patients than in TCA-treated patients was dysuria (2.1% of patients
treated with milnacipran). Milnacipran is as effective as TCAs in the
treatment of patients with major depression and is better tolerated.
Milnacipran's lack of effects on cardiovascular function offers improved
safety in cases of overdose.
