The clinical profile of reboxetine, a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, was compared with that of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine and placebo in a double-blind, multicenter, parallel-group clinical trial of patients with major depression. Among the 381 patients treated with reboxetine 8 to 10 mg/day, fluoxetine 20 to 40 mg/day, or placebo for up to 8 weeks, a statistically significant greater reduction in the mean Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (21-item HAM-D) total score (the primary efficacy variable) was seen for both active treatment groups compared with placebo (p < 0.024). A significantly greater proportion of patients treated with either reboxetine or fluoxetine also achieved a response (>or=50% reduction in HAM-D) or remission (HAM-D

This clinical trial of a new antidepressant, fluoxetine, shows it to be as effective as a standard tricyclic drug, imipramine. It is effective as a single daily dose and is free of any significant side-effects. It is less sedative and appears to cause fewer problems of weight increase. The three scales used to assess efficacy showed a very positive correlation.

The efficacy and safety of remoxipride in the treatment of schizophrenia were compared with those of haloperidol in a multicentre double‐blind 6‐week study which was randomized with a parallel group design and was preceded by a washout period. Eighty‐nine consecutively admitted men and women meeting the Research Diagnostic Criteria for schizophrenia in an acute phase of the illness were treated with remoxipride 75–300 mg twice daily or haloperidol 5–20 mg twice daily. The efficacy assessments were the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Krawiecka Rating Scale, and Clinical Global Impression. Both antipsychotic drugs produced clinical improvement with no significant differences between the efficacy of the two drugs. There were relatively few side effects. There were significantly fewer extrapyramidal symptoms and instances of blurred vision with remoxipride and less constipation with haloperidol. The results indicate that remoxipride is as effective an antipsychotic as haloperidol. Remoxipride has an advantage over haloperidol in respect to extrapyramidal side effects.

A multicentre parallel group study was carried out to compare the efficacy and safety of remoxipride, a new antipsychotic drug, with haloperidol in the treatment of acute schizophrenia. Patients were randomly assigned to the two groups and assessments were made under double-blind conditions. Treatment was preceded by a washout period and lasted 6 weeks. Eighty-nine consecutively admitted men and women meeting the Research Diagnostic Criteria for schizophrenia in an acute phase of the illness were treated with remoxipride 75-300 mg b.d. or haloperidol 5-20 mg b.d. The main assessments were changes in scores on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Krawiecka Rating Scale and Clinical Global Impression. Both neuroleptics produced clinical improvement but there were no significant differences in overall efficacy measurements between the two drugs. There were relatively few unwanted side-effects. There were significantly less extra-pyramidal symptoms and blurred vision with remoxipride, and less constipation with haloperidol. The results indicate that remoxipride is an effective antipsychotic drug with a low incidence of extrapyramidal side-effects.