A metaregression analysis indicated that , after adjusting for possible confounders , studies where fluoxetine was the experimental agent were positively associated with treatment effect , indicating a significant advantage for fluoxetine .
The evidence that the outcome of fluoxetine trials varied according to whether this drug was used as a new compound or a reference one suggests the presence of bias
The present study investigated whether the outcome of r and omized clinical trials study ing fluoxetine favored fluoxetine , where this was the experimental agent , and favored comparator antidepressants in trials where fluoxetine was the reference agent .
Double-blind comparison of bupropion and fluoxetine in depressed outpatients.
BACKGROUND This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy and safety of bupropion and fluoxetine . METHOD Moderately to severely depressed out patients who fulfilled the DSM-III-R criteria for nonpsychotic major depressive disorder and had a score of 20 or more on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( 21 item ) participated in this two-center study . Following a 1-week placebo phase , patients were r and omly assigned to receive either bupropion or fluoxetine for 6 weeks of double-blind treatment . Weekly efficacy assessment s included Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression , Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety , Clinical Global Impressions-Severity , and Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement . Vital signs and adverse experiences were also assessed weekly . RESULTS A total of 61 patients were r and omly assigned to receive bupropion ( 225 - 450 mg/day ) and 62 were r and omly assigned to receive fluoxetine ( 20 - 80 mg/day ) . The mean daily dose at the end of the study was 382 mg/day for the bupropion treatment group and 38 mg/day for the fluoxetine treatment group . There were no statistically significant differences between treatments on any of the efficacy variables . On the basis of a 50 % or greater reduction in the HAM-D scores , 63 % ( N = 37 ) of the bupropion-treated and 58 % ( N = 35 ) of the fluoxetine-treated patients were categorized as responders , and on the basis of CGI scores , 68 % ( N = 40 ) of the bupropion-treated and 58 % ( N = 35 ) of the fluoxetine-treated patients were rated as much or very much improved . HAM-A scores decreased by 59 % for both treatment groups . The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was low with no statistically significant differences between treatments . Twenty-six percent ( N = 16 ) of the bupropion-treated and 29 % ( N = 18 ) of the fluoxetine-treated patients prematurely discontinued treatment . CONCLUSION Both bupropion and fluoxetine demonstrated similar efficacy in relieving depression and accompanying symptoms of anxiety , and both exhibited a similar , favorable safety profile
A metaregression analysis indicated that , after adjusting for possible confounders , studies where fluoxetine was the experimental agent were positively associated with treatment effect , indicating a significant advantage for fluoxetine .
The evidence that the outcome of fluoxetine trials varied according to whether this drug was used as a new compound or a reference one suggests the presence of bias
The present study investigated whether the outcome of r and omized clinical trials study ing fluoxetine favored fluoxetine , where this was the experimental agent , and favored comparator antidepressants in trials where fluoxetine was the reference agent .