Nomifensine maleate (Merital, Hoechst-Roussel).
Nomifensine is an isoquinoline antidepressant that inhibits the reuptake of dopamine at central synapses. It also inhibits norepinephrine reuptake but is only a weak inhibitor of 5-hydroxytryptamine. Open and controlled trials comparing nomifensine with placebo and other standard antidepressants have shown it to be an effective antidepressant in divided doses up to 200 mg/d. The full dosage range of 50-200 mg/d is well tolerated, and doses can be selected to suit patient disease, age, and therapeutic response. Minimal anticholinergic and sedative side effects and no impairment of psychomotor performance make nomifensine a suitable drug for use in a wide variety of ambulatory outpatients, including the elderly. A relative lack of cardiotoxicity and epileptogenic activity add to this profile; the safety of the drug, when taken in overdose, has been documented. However, the place of nomifensine in the treatment of depression, relative to other antidepressants, is still unclear.
D000818:Animals; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D007700:Kinetics; D009627:Nomifensine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D007546:Isoquinolines; D009627:Nomifensine