Mianserin in the Prophylactic Treatment of Bipolar Affective Illness

Abstract

Mianserin in a dosage of 20 mg 3 times daily was given to 13 patients with bipolar affective illness, previously maintained on Li. Patients (2) left the trial in a few days because of drowsiness and 1 because of insomnia; within the 3-mo. trial period 6 became manic. Mianserin may be capable of precipitating mania in susceptible subjects with bipolar affective illness. This may be a general antidepressant property since it has been described with other antidepressants.