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 .
A controlled comparison of fluoxetine and amitriptyline in depressed out-patients.
Fluoxetine , a selective serotonin uptake inhibitor ( mean dose 73 mg each morning ) was compared with amitriptyline ( mean dose 122 mg at night ) in a double-blind study of 64 depressed out- patients . Fifty patients completed the 6-week trial . The drugs did not differ with respect to psychiatrists ' ratings , but amitriptyline was slightly superior with respect to patients ' ratings . The amitriptyline-treated group had complaints of dry mouth and dizziness on st and ing ; the fluoxetine-treated group of sleep disturbances , nausea , and headaches
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 .