MIANSERIN ONCE-A-DAY AT BEDTIME-

As effective as a divided dose regimen Mianserin ('Norval') 30mg nightly was at least as effective as I Omg tid in 90 depressed outpatients treated for 6 weeks. The Hamilton Rating Scale showed both mianserin regimens to produce significant reductions in total scores over placebo from week 2 onwards, but these only reached statistical significance with nightly mianserin. Placebo treated patients showed no significant change during the 6 weeks. Night-time mianserin was associated with a higher incidence of drowsiness (55-59 %) in the first 2 weeks than mianserin tid (32-35 %), or placebo 09-25 %)- patients on nightly mianserin should be warned not to drive or handle machinery during the first 2 weeks. After 2 weeks there was little difference between the treatment groups. No patients withdrew due to side effects. Magnus, R.V.: British Journal ofClinicai Practice 33: 251 (Sep ! 979)

10 INPHARMA 2 Feb 1980 0156-2703/80/0202-0010 $00.50/0 © ADIS Press