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 .
Reboxetine: a double-blind comparison with fluoxetine in major depressive disorder.
The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of reboxetine , a uniquely selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor , with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor , fluoxetine . A double-blind , r and omized , parallel-group , multicentre design was employed . One hundred and sixty-eight patients with acute major depressive episodes were r and omized to receive oral reboxetine ( 8 - 10 mg/day ) or oral fluoxetine ( 20 - 40 mg/day ) . The treatment period was 8 weeks . Reboxetine and fluoxetine were similarly effective as assessed by the mean reduction in total Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score , the percentage of responders and patients in remission , Clinical Global Impression severity of illness and global improvement scores and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale . A sub- analysis of patients with severe depression indicated that reboxetine had superior efficacy compared with fluoxetine . Both treatments result ed in some improvement in Social Adaptation Self-evaluation Scale total scores and this was more evident for those patients treated with reboxetine who achieved remission . Both treatments were well tolerated . The results indicate that reboxetine is an effective and well tolerated antidepressant , being more effective than fluoxetine in patients with severe depression , and more effective in terms of social functioning in those patients who achieved remission
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 .