The Management of Depression in Hospital

Abstract

Desipramine (Pertofran) is a metabolite of imipramine (Tofranil) originally isolated by Herrmann, Schindler and Pulver (1959) and found to be identical with the synthetic compound G.35025. Animal experiments (Gillette et al., 1961) suggest a more rapid action for desipramine, and the majority of clinical trials to date confirm this impression for humans (e.g. Kline et al., 1962; Krakowski, 1963). Some controlled trials, however, (Azima et al., 1962; Hollister et al., 1963) fail to establish that desipramine is either faster acting or more effective than imipramine.

The UKU side effect rating scale: A new comprehensive rating scale for psychotropic drugs and a cross‐sectional study of side effects in neuroleptic‐treated patients

“…Thus, the use of structured side effect rating scales has not been particularly widespread in antidepressant drug trials. One of the first to be used in such trials was a 22-item side effect scale described by Waldron and Bates (7) and used by them in a comparison between imipramine and desipramine. The scale included, La., the following symptoms: dry mouth, blurred vision, sweating, tremor, syncopal attacks, rash, headache, palpitations, dizziness, flushing, constipation, overactivity, anxiety, nausea, general weakness, and tinnitus.…”