Combined therapy using moclobemide and tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants for therapy-resistant depression

After treatment with a classical tri/tetracyclic antidepressant a combined therapy with 300 mg moclobemide was given to a group of 23 depressive patients who were resistent to treatment (previous treatment with two biochemical different antidepressants for al least 5 weeks in sufficient doses, average period of episode up to the beginning of the combined therapy 8 months). With 13 patients (56,5%) an improvement of the Hamilton depression scale (24-item-version) of al least 50% was achieved. The side effects corresponded to those regarded in literature (especially restlessness), but they were less numerous. There was no increase of EEG or ECG changes. Considering the presented results the combined therapy with the reversible MAO inhibitor moclobemide represents a practical therapy with little side effect.