The Antidepressant Agent Moclobemide Has No Adverse Effect on the Diseased Heart

The effects of moclobemide were investigated in depressive patients (pts) (17 males and 30 females) aged between 20-73 years. Twenty four patients had congestive heart failure and depression (Group I) and twenty three had depression without cardiac disease (Group II). Depression was diagnosed by a was evaluated by means of Hamilton and Zung scales. The patients were examined before and on the 7th, 15th, 30th days of the treatment. M-mode, 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography were performed before and on the 31st day of the treatment. No differences were found before and after treatment in systolic and diastolic left ventricular parameters in both groups. There were some transient side effects: sixteen pts had dry mouth, 9 had an increased appetite, 7 had sleepiness, 6 pts had nausea, 5 had trembling and paresthesia, 5 had visual turbidity, 5 had headache and 4 pts had constipation. Our study showed that moclobemide as an antidepressant agent, lacked adverse effects on cardiac systolic and diastolic function.