Moclobemide (Ro 11‐1163) versus tranylcypromine in the treatment of endogenous depression

In this study, moclobemide (100-350 mg daily) was compared with tranylcypromine (10-30 mg daily) in 40 patients with endogenous depression. Treatment was randomly allocated and most patients also received benzodiazepines or mild neuroleptics concomitantly. Improvement on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression at the end of treatment was 66% for moclobemide and 41% for tranylcypromine patients. There were 3 suspected tyramine reactions in patients on tranylcypromine. Tolerance was considered good or very good for 95% of moclobemide patients, and for 75% of tranylcypromine patients. No clinically relevant changes in laboratory data were attributed to either of the trial drugs. The results clearly favour moclobemide over tranylcypromine for both efficacy and tolerance in the treatment of endogenous depression.