Moclobemide for Depression

Seven hundred twelve patients meeting DSM-III-R criteria for major depression and recommended for antidepressant treatment were treated with moclobemide as outpatients (88%) or inpatients in ordinary psychiatric practices. These differ from the highly selected patients usually studied in antidepressant research, without comorbidity, or coprescription and treated in special clinics. Sixty-five percent were women, with a mean age of 45 (+/- 13.6) years, and 88% were outpatients. Eighty-eight percent had preexisting depression. Eight percent had prior manic episodes. Previous antidepressant treatment for this episode had been received by 69%, with the most common reasons for change to moclobemide being inadequate response (66%) and poor tolerability (20%). The modal final dose was 450 mg. Regarding tolerability, 52% did not report adverse events. The most common adverse events were insomnia or stimulation (13%), nausea (11%), headache or migraine (11%), dizziness or disorientation (6%), sedation or drowsiness (5%), agitation or nervousness (3%), and diarrhea (3%). Only 10% of adverse events were severe, and 83% lasted less than 2 weeks. There was no difference when moclobemide followed fluoxetine use. Most adverse events did not significantly differ from the frequencies reported in double-blind placebo-controlled studies. Concomitant medications from all major drug groups were taken by 520 patients (73%), with no adverse interactions. Moclobemide overdose resulted in an uneventful recovery, whereas mixed overdoses caused no problems other than those attributable to coprescribed medication. On physician clinical global impression, 65% were moderately improved or better after 8 weeks. In summary, 712 patients with major depression treated in normal clinical psychiatric practice gave results similar to those from double-blind placebo-controlled studies in tolerability, adverse effects, safety, and efficacy, supporting moclobemide's role as a useful antidepressant. (J Clin Psychopharmacol 1995;15[Suppl 2]:31S-34S)