SUDDEN RECOVERY FROM DEPRESSION UNDER TREATMENT WITH PAROXETINE

In a multicentre double-blind randomised study comparing paroxetine an d maprotiline a 48-year old moderately depressed woman was treated for 6 weeks with paroxetine. Tn the first week of treatment the patient s uffered considerable side-effects (dry mouth, nausea, accommodation di sturbance), while the symptoms remained unchanged. From the ninth day of treatment the patient felt suddenly better and no longer had any si gns of side-effects. On the Hamilton score she fell from 20 to 2 in on e week. At a followup consultation 5 weeks after discontinuation of th e medication the patient was still free from symptoms.