Conclusions : International differences in prescriber behaviour may influence , and in turn be influenced by , the conduct of clinical trials .
Objective : International differences are thought to exist in dosages used by clinicians treating mood disorders .
This study examined international dosage differences in antidepressant clinical trials , using a data base formed and maintained as a component of a Cochrane review of comparative clinical trials of fluoxetine .
Fluoxetine compared with imipramine in the treatment of inpatient depression. A multicenter trial.
Fluoxetine and imipramine were compared in a six-week , double-blind , r and omized trial in 118 men and women , ages 18 to 70 years , hospitalized for major depressive disorder . Treatment groups were comparable at baseline . Median maintenance doses were : fluoxetine , 80 mg/day ; imipramine , 200 mg/day . Efficacy with fluoxetine and imipramine was comparable : none of the between-treatment differences was statistically significant . Mean + /- st and ard deviation baseline HAMD21 total scores and change ( last-visit-carried-forward analysis ) , respectively , were fluoxetine , 28.0 + /- 5.3 and -8.5 + /- 9.9 ; imipramine , 27.0 + /- 5.8 and -11.9 + /- 9.0 . Response and remission rates , respectively , were fluoxetine , 54.5 and 21.2 % ; imipramine , 60.0 and 34.3 % . Discontinuations for adverse events were comparable ( fluoxetine , 21.4 % ; imipramine , 22.6 % ) . Common treatment-emergent events with fluoxetine were dry mouth ( 28.6 % ) , constipation ( 17.9 % ) , and somnolence ( 17.9 % ) ; those with imipramine were dry mouth ( 58.1 % ) , constipation ( 32.3 % ) , and headache ( 22.6 % ) . Fluoxetine was as effective as imipramine in this population of in patients
Conclusions : International differences in prescriber behaviour may influence , and in turn be influenced by , the conduct of clinical trials .
Objective : International differences are thought to exist in dosages used by clinicians treating mood disorders .
This study examined international dosage differences in antidepressant clinical trials , using a data base formed and maintained as a component of a Cochrane review of comparative clinical trials of fluoxetine .