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A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study of alpidem, a novel anxiolytic of imidazopyridine structure, in chronically anxious patients
Author(s) -
Casacchia M.,
Farolfi A.,
Priore P.,
Magni G.,
Stratta P.,
Cesana B.,
Rossi A.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1989.tb01315.x
Subject(s) - anxiolytic , placebo , anxiety , clinical global impression , hamilton anxiety rating scale , visual analogue scale , medicine , anesthesia , anti anxiety agents , nottingham health profile , psychology , psychiatry , alternative medicine , pathology
In this double‐blind study alpidem, a new imidazopyridine anxiolytic drug, was compared with placebo to assess its efficacy and safety in severely anxious patients at the fixed dose of 150 mg/day (50 mg t.i.d.) for 3 weeks. Fifty‐nine patients with a score of at least 18 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HRSA) eniered the trial after a 3‐ to 7‐day placebo run‐in period. Symptom improvement was evaluated with ihe HRSA, the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI‐1 and STAI‐2), a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI). Alpidem was more effective than placebo in improving mean HRSA (total score and factorial scores for somatic and psychic anxiety), STAI‐1 and STAI‐2 and VAS scores. The efficacy index of the CGI was better for alpidem than for placebo. Side effects were negligible in both groups. Alpidem appears to be a new interesting anxiolytic drug devoid of significant sedative effects on mental functions.