An Open Study of Two Dose Levels of ‘Vivalan’ (Viloxazine Hydrochloride ICI 58 834) in Depression in General Practice

Abstract

Forty-eight mild to moderate depressives were treated by six genera practitioners with a chemically novel anti-depressant, ‘Vivalan’ (viloxazine hydrochloride, ICI 58 834). Twenty-five patients took 150 mg/day in three divided doses, and twenty-three took 200 mg/day in two divided doses, each for twenty-one days. The severity of both the depressive symptoms and the anxiety symptoms showed a statistically highly significant reduction over the duration of the study. There was no difference between the efficacy of the two dose levels. Viloxazine was generally well tolerated and there was no difference between the two dose levels as far as side-effects or withdrawals were concerned. The usual sedative and anti-cholinergic side-effects of the tricyclic anti-depressants were virtually absent. The only side-effect seen was a transient upper gastro-intestinal disturbance. It was commoner at the high dose but not significantly so. It is concluded that viloxazine hydrochloride appears to be an effective anti-depressant in this type of patient and produces little or no sedative or anti-cholinergic side-effects. Either 150 mg/day or 200 mg/day would seem a reasonable dose to use in general practice.