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 .
Effectiveness of fluoxetine and doxepin in treatment of melancholia in depressed patients.
It has been suggested that serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) may be less effective than tricyclic antidepressants ( TCAs ) in treatment of melancholic depression . We treated 36 depressed ambulatory patients with doxepin or fluoxetine  in a double-blind , r and omized 6-week trial with placebo run-in . Seven patients treated with doxepin and 13 patients treated with fluoxetine met diagnostic criteria for melancholic depression . Average daily dose was 169.4 + /- 41.6 mg for doxepin and 36.8 + /- 18 mg for fluoxetine . We observed a 50 % response rate in both treatment groups , using as outcome criterion reduction of Hamilton Depression Scale Score to less than 10 . Regardless of how strict the definition of response , we found fluoxetine to be as effective as doxepin in our group of melancholic out patients
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 .