Therapeutic effect of maprotiline and chlorimipramine: controlled study.

A study was done on 40 outpatients suffering from major affective disorders (uni- and bipolar). Chlorimipramine or maprotiline was administered alternatively (means = 116.25 and 116.75 mg/day, respectively). The therapeutic effect of both antidepressive drugs is very similar, but maprotiline improves the gastrointestinal somatic symptoms faster and seems to be more effective in bipolar patients. It also produces less side effects than chlorimipramine.