MOCLOBEMIDE TWICE-DAILY IN THE TREATMENT OF MAJOR DEPRESSIVE EPISODE - A DOUBLE-BLIND, MULTICENTER COMPARISON WITH DIFFERENT 3-TIMES-DAILY DOSAGE SCHEDULES

Data on a twice-daily dosage schedule with moclobemide in the treatmen t of depression is limited. In this study, moclobemide 150 mg twice da ily (b.i.d.) was compared to two different three-times-daily (t.i.d.) regimens with total daily dosages of 300 and 450 mg, respectively, ove r a 6-week period. The study was randomized, double-blind, and conduct ed at three university centers. Efficacy was measured on the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scales, on the Zung Scale, and on clinic al global impression. Tolerability and safety were assessed through ad verse events and vital signs and on clinical global impression. One hu ndred seventy-eight depressed outpatients were included, and 158 compl eted the study. The treatment groups were comparable at baseline. No c lear differences between the treatment groups could be shown with resp ect to efficacy. There was, however, a slightly larger decrease in the total HAM-A score in the groups receiving 150 mg b.i.d. and t.i.d. th an in the third group. There were no marked differences between the gr oups with respect to tolerability and safety. Tolerability was rated ' 'good'' or ''excellent'' in 94% of patients, and there was no apprecia ble change in vital signs in any of the treatment groups. Moclobemide 150 mg b.i.d. is the optimal initial schedule for treatment of depress ion.