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 .
Fluoxetine: a randomized clinical trial in the maintenance of weight loss.
Because current weight-reduction treatments have considerable recidivism , a therapy that could help patients maintain weight loss would be of benefit . A six-center , r and omized , double-blind trial compared the effects of the specific serotonin uptake inhibitor , fluoxetine hydrochloride , and placebo on maintenance of weight loss .  Obese out patients who had lost > or = 3.6 kg after 8 weeks of single-blind fluoxetine 60 mg/day in the qualification phase ( N=317 [ 70.4 % of patients entered ] ; mean + /- st and ard deviation [ SD ] weight loss , 6.8 + /- 2.8 kg ) were r and omly assigned to fluoxetine 20 mg/day ( N=104 ) , fluoxetine 60 mg/day ( N=106 ) , or placebo ( N=107 ) for 40 weeks ( maintenance phase ) . Patients received minimal nutrition/dietary counseling . Qualification phase clinic visits were biweekly ; maintenance phase visits were monthly for 4 months , then bimonthly for 6 months . Patients treated with fluoxetine 60 mg/day continued to lose weight for 8 additional weeks ( 16 weeks total ; maximum mean + /- SD weight loss , 7.2 + /- 4.6 kg ) ; those treated with fluoxetine 20 mg/day or placebo began to regain weight . Mean weights remained below baseline values at week 48 ( all groups ) ; treatment differences were not statistically significant . Study completion rates were comparable ( fluoxetine 20 mg/day , 67.3 % ; fluoxetine 60 mg/day , 56.6 % ; placebo , 67.3 % ; p = 0.175 ) . Among commonly reported adverse events ( > 10 % incidence ) , only asthenia was reported statistically significantly ( p < 0.050 ) more frequently with fluoxetine than with placebo . Few patients discontinued for any single adverse event . Fluoxetine 60 mg/day was effective for a longer period than fluoxetine 20 mg/day or placebo in maintaining weight loss . Overall , fluoxetine was safe and well tolerated
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 .