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 .
Comparative efficacy and safety of nortriptyline and fluoxetine in the treatment of major depression: a clinical study.
The safety and efficacy of nortriptyline and fluoxetine were compared in a double-blind , r and omized , multicenter 5-week trial involving 205 out patients with acute major depression of moderate severity . Seventy-two nortriptyline and 84  fluoxetine patients completed at least 2 weeks of medication and were included in the efficacy analysis ; all patients were evaluated for side effects . Average total scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( HAM-D ) for both treatment groups declined from 22 - 23 at baseline to 11.5 at the conclusion of the 5-week period . At Week , 5 , 71 % of nortriptyline patients and 65 % of fluoxetine patients were much or very much improved . Fluoxetine was associated more frequently with nausea ( p less than .05 ) , while nortriptyline was associated more frequently with dry mouth ( p less than .05 ) . These results are discussed in the context of selecting between nortriptyline and fluoxetine for a particular depressed patient
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 .