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 .
Fluoxetine versus trazodone in the treatment of outpatients with major depression.
Fluoxetine and trazodone were compared in a double-blind , r and omized , parallel , 6-week trial in 43 out patients with major depression after a 1-week single-blind placebo period . Thirty-five patients completed at least 3 weeks of active medication , while 25 patients completed all 6 weeks . Response rates , whether defined by end-of-treatment Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( HAM-D ) score less than 10 or by a 50 % reduction in HAM-D scores , were equivalent for the two medications . For fluoxetine , HAM-D scores were significantly lower at Weeks 1 and 2 compared with those of trazodone . Trazodone  improved sleep significantly more than fluoxetine . Fluoxetine was associated more frequently with weight loss ( p = .002 ) and less frequently with dizziness ( p = .04 ) than trazodone
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 .