Amisulpride versus amineptine and
placebo for the treatment of dysthymia
by
Boyer P, Lecrubier Y, Stalla-Bourdillon A, Fleurot O
Unite INSERM 302,
Hopital Salpetriere,
Paris, France.
Neuropsychobiology 1999; 39(1):25-32

ABSTRACT

Amisulpride, a selective antagonist for D2 and D3 dopamine receptors, acts preferentially on presynaptic receptors increasing dopaminergic transmission at low doses. In a multicentre, 3-month, placebo-controlled study, amisulpride (50 mg/day) was compared to amineptine (200 mg/day) in the treatment of primary dysthymia. A total of 323 patients were enrolled. Amisulpride and amineptine were found to be statistically superior to placebo (p < 0.0001) on the Clinical Global Impression (item 2): 63, 64 and 33% responders, respectively; improvement of Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms scores following amisulpride or amineptine treatment was twice as high as with placebo (p < 0.0001). The adverse event profile of amisulpride was similar to that of placebo except for endocrine symptoms in female patients; amineptine showed mainly events linked to psychic activation (insomnia, nervousness). Results show that amisulpride can improve symptoms of chronic depression in dysthymia.

Sulpiride
Dysthymia
Anhedonia
Early onset?
Comparisons
Pharmacology
Amineptine excess
Amineptine and sex
Mesolimbic dopamine
Amineptine and the rat
Dopaminergic fast actors
Amineptine and smart mice
Amineptine and smarter dogs
Dysthymia, hyperthymia, cyclothymia

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