zimeldine and Headache

The similarities and differences in the clinical response and incidence of adverse symptoms between zimeldine and amitriptyline have been evaluated by use of a combined analysis of four double-blind clinical trials in depression. In total, 197 patients were included in this series of studies. The efficacy of the drugs was assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Reports of adverse symptoms were actively elicited by use of a check-list of symptoms and rated for severity. The overall clinical efficacy of the two drugs was shown to be equivalent with a high degree of statistical confidence. However, there exist differences in the profile of action. Amitriptyline has a significant advantage in insomnia problems. In spite of this zimeldine was shown to be at least as effective as amitriptyline in reducing anxiety. Amitriptyline is associated with significantly more anticholinergic side-effects, whereas headache is more disturbing during zimeldine treatment. The combination of several independent trials based on similar protocols can be a useful tool to increase the statistical reliability of conclusions relative to that which can be achieved in standard sized, individual studies in depression.

Topics: Adult; Amitriptyline; Anxiety; Clinical Trials as Topic; Depressive Disorder; Double-Blind Method; Female; Headache; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Sleep Wake Disorders; Zimeldine

Zimeldine, imipramine and placebo were studied in a randomized, double-blind, parallel group comparison of 119 patients with primary affective disorders. These out-patients were between 18 and 65 years of age and all received placebo single-blind during an initial 3-7-day washout period. During the subsequent 6-week double-blind period, patients were titrated from 50 mg b.d. to 150 mg b.d. with zimeldine, a potent and selective inhibitor of 5-HT reuptake, with imipramine, an inhibitor of noradrenaline and 5-HT reuptake, or with a corresponding number of placebo capsules. The zimeldine treatment group had significantly lower mean HAM-D scale total scores than the placebo and imipramine groups at week 4 and last available assessment. There was a significantly greater proportion of patients showing an improvement of 50% or more in HAM-D score, among the zimeldine group than in the placebo group at week 4, and among the imipramine group at weeks 4, 6 and last available assessment. The Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scales and the 56-item Hopkins Symptom Check-list (HSCL-56) self-rating inventory both showed significantly more improvement in the zimeldine patients than in the placebo or the imipramine patients. Fewer zimeldine patients reported adverse experiences than imipramine patients. Dry mouth was the most frequently reported adverse experience, occurring significantly more often in the imipramine group than the zimeldine or the placebo groups; significantly more zimeldine than placebo patients reported dry mouth. Headache was the only other adverse experience which occurred more often in the zimeldine than in the placebo group. The imipramine group had consistently higher mean pulse rates than the other two groups, and postural hypotension was also more common in the imipramine group.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Bipolar Disorder; Blood Pressure; Body Weight; Clinical Trials as Topic; Depressive Disorder; Double-Blind Method; Headache; Humans; Imipramine; Middle Aged; Placebos; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Pulse; Zimeldine

13 patients with endogenous depression, who had failed to obtain a lasting response to other antidepressant drugs or to electroconvulsive therapy, were treated with zimelidine. 3 showed a marked, and 3 a mild improvement. Side effects were minimal.

Topics: Aged; Antidepressive Agents; Brompheniramine; Clinical Trials as Topic; Depressive Disorder; Female; Headache; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Personality Inventory; Pyridines; Zimeldine

Topics: Adult; Antidepressive Agents; Brompheniramine; Female; Headache; Humans; Liver; Muscles; Pain; Pyridines; Zimeldine

Topics: Adult; Antidepressive Agents; Brompheniramine; Female; Headache; Humans; Liver; Liver Function Tests; Male; Pyridines; Zimeldine

Topics: Brompheniramine; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Headache; Humans; Pyridines; Serotonin Antagonists; Zimeldine