Effect of flupenthixol on depression with special reference to combination use with tricyclic antidepressants. An uncontrolled pilot study with 45 patients.

In an open, uncontrolled trial flupenthixol was administered to 45 patients with endogenous depression. The drug was markedly effective in eight patients, effective in nine patients, fairly effective in 12 patients, and ineffective or aggravating in 16 patients. Four patients showed transient manic symptoms. Dosage was 1-3 mg daily. In 36 patients flupenthixol was used in combination with previously administered tricyclic antidepressants, and in nine patients it was used alone. Clinical effect was quickly apparent. It appeared within 1 week in 63% and within 2 weeks in 93% of subjects. Side-effects were observed in 13 patients: insomnia, five patients; slight extrapyramidal symptoms, nine patients. Sedative-hypnogenic effects were rarely seen. In 71% of 17 patients in whom the drug was found to be markedly effective or effective, flupenthixol's influence on psychomotor retardation was particularly striking. Other clear benefits were relief of depressive mood, psychic anxiety, and agitation. It is recommended that flupenthixol is given, as supplementary medication, to patients (1) whose depressive symptoms other than psychomotor retardation have already improved with current tricyclic antidepressants, and (2) in whom, before antidepressant medication, psychomotor retardation is a principal feature.