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 comparison of fluvoxamine and fluoxetine in the treatment of major depression.
This r and omized , double-blind , parallel-group design study of 100 out patients with major depressive disorder is the first study in the United States to compare the efficacy and tolerability of fluvoxamine ( 100 - 150 mg/day ) and fluoxetine ( 20 - 80 mg/day ) . After a variable , single-blind , washout period , patients were r and omized to receive either fluvoxamine ( 51 patients ) of fluoxetine ( 49 patients ) for 7 weeks . Efficacy was assessed with the 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( HAM-D ) , and Clinical Global Impressions scale for severity and improvement . Eighty-four percent of each treatment group completed the study with each group having a mean score at end point of less than 10 . Both groups demonstrated a 60 % improvement in HAM-D scores over the 7-week trial . There were no statistically significant differences observed between the two groups on any efficacy parameter . The medications were well tolerated , with only two patients in each group who were terminated because of side effects . There were differences in the side-effect profiles , with fluvoxamine being associated with less nausea than fluoxetine . In summary , fluvoxamine and fluoxetine were equally effective in reducing depressive symptoms , but the two drugs displayed slightly different side-effect profiles
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 .