Low-certainty evidence suggests that off-label fluoxetine may decrease weight compared with placebo .
However , low-certainty evidence suggests an increase in the risk for dizziness , drowsiness , fatigue , insomnia and nausea following fluoxetine treatment
BACKGROUND Fluoxetine is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor indicated for major depression .
It is also thought to affect weight control : this seems to happen through appetite changes result ing in decreased food intake and normalisation of unusual eating behaviours .
However , the benefit-risk ratio of this off-label medication is unclear .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of fluoxetine for overweight or obese adults .
The effect of the 5-HT re-uptake inhibitor fluoxetine on food intake and body weight in healthy male subjects.
Eleven healthy male subjects of normal body weight received either 60 mg of the 5-HT re-uptake inhibitor fluoxetine ( FXT ) or matching placebo daily for two weeks , with a minimum one month wash-out period between treatments . Subjects attended on days 1 , 8 and 15 from 08.50 h to 15.15 h in each treatment period when food and fluid intake , body weight , pulse and blood pressure , pupil diameter and plasma levels of FXT and NorFXT  were measured and visual analogue scales ( VAS ) for subjective ratings of hunger , satiety , thirst , mood , arousal , nausea and gastric discomfort were completed . The trial was of a double-blind r and omised crossover design , each subject acting as his own control . FXT reduced food intake by 15.7 per cent on day 1 ; by 12.6 per cent on day 8 but not on day 15 . Hunger ratings were lowered by FXT on days 8 and 15 but not on day 1 . Subjects were less thirsty when taking FXT but there was no concomitant reduction in fluid intake .  FXT produced some mydriasis and slowed heart rate . In two weeks treatment with FXT there was a statistically significant weight loss of 1.07 kg compared to a mean weight gain of 0.15 kg on placebo . The incidence of reported side effects was low , drowsiness and stomach discomfort were reported by some subjects on days 8 and 15
Low-certainty evidence suggests that off-label fluoxetine may decrease weight compared with placebo .
However , low-certainty evidence suggests an increase in the risk for dizziness , drowsiness , fatigue , insomnia and nausea following fluoxetine treatment
BACKGROUND Fluoxetine is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor indicated for major depression .
It is also thought to affect weight control : this seems to happen through appetite changes result ing in decreased food intake and normalisation of unusual eating behaviours .
However , the benefit-risk ratio of this off-label medication is unclear .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of fluoxetine for overweight or obese adults .