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 .
Fluoxetine versus amitriptyline in the treatment of major depression with associated anxiety (anxious depression): a double-blind comparison.
Although common in clinical setting s , major depressive disorder with associated anxious symptoms ( ' anxious depression ' ) has not been well studied in antidepressant clinical trials . The aim of this study was to compare the effects of fluoxetine versus amitriptyline in this group of patients . After a single-blind placebo run-in period of 2 weeks , patients were treated on a double-blind basis with fluoxetine or amitriptyline for 8 weeks . Assessment instruments included : 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression , Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety , Clinical Global Impressions , Raskin Depression Scale and Covi Anxiety Scale . A total of 157 patients were r and omized to either fluoxetine or amitriptyline . Fluoxetine was given at a fixed dose of 20 mg/day and amitriptyline was given in a range of 50 - 250 mg/day ( mean of 138.1 mg/day ) . Fluoxetine was comparable to amitriptyline in all efficacy measures except the HAMD sleep factor . Unwanted effects were more frequent and more severe in the amitriptyline-treated patients . Fluoxetine was comparably efficacious to amitriptyline in the treatment of major depression with associated anxiety .  Since fluoxetine was far better tolerated , it is a promising alternative for this frequent and disabling condition
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 .