Abstract
Mianserin is a new tetracyclic compound being the active principle of the antidepressant drug Tolvon®. Originally synthesized as an antiallergic, the discovery of the antidepressant activity of mianserin was serendipitous.
This review describes the historical development of mianserin as the first representative of a second generation of antidepressants. A summary is given of the clinical trials performed leading to a therapeutic profile of an antidepressant of similar efficacy as tricyclic products, however, with fewer and less severe side effects. Unlike tricyclic products mianserin lacks cardiotoxicity resulting in a superior safety also in overdosage.
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De Ridder, J.J. Mianserin: result of a decade of antidepressant research. Pharmaceutisch Weekblad Scientific Edition 4, 139–145 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01959033
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01959033