Mixed anxiety/depressive illness in general practice. A therapeutic comparison of nomifensine with fluphenazine/nortriptyline.

The effect of the dopamine agonist antidepressant drug, nomifensine, on mixed anxiety/depressive states in general practice was assessed by means of a double-blind comparison with a standard fluphenazine/nortriptyline preparation. 57 patients were randomly allocated to 4 weeks' treatment with either nomifensine 25-50 mg taken three times daily, or a tablet containing 1.5 mg fluphenazine with 30 mg nortriptyline (Motipress) taken once daily. The overall response to both treatments was satisfactory, but Motipress was significantly superior (P less than 0.01) to nomifensine in the relief of fatigue and loss of energy, irritability, poor concentration and difficulty in coping, and there was also evidence of greater relief of depressive symptoms. In mixed anxiety/depressive states in general practice, nomifensine offers no advantage over a simple one tablet daily Motipress regimen.