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 .
Moclobemide versus fluoxetine for a major depressive episode
The efficacy and tolerability of moclobemide ( 300 or 600 mg daily ) and fluoxetine ( 20 or 40 mg daily ) were compared in a 6-week , double-blind study of 25 in patients and 24 out patients who had major depressive episodes without psychotic features ( DSM-III-R ) . Although the clinical results of this study suggest better efficacy with moclobemide and better tolerability with fluoxetine , a statistically significant difference between treatment groups was noted only with respect to Clinical Global Impressions recorded after 10 days of therapy ; these were significantly better in the moclobemide group . A daily dosage of 300 mg of moclobemide and 20 mg of fluoxetine would thus appear to be comparable both in antidepressant efficacy and tolerability
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 .