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 .
Comparison of fluoxetine and placebo in the treatment of obesity.
Our study aims at assessing the efficacy and safety of fluoxetine as compared with placebo in the treatment of obesity using a double-blind crossover design . We studied 42 obese women ( body mass index 35.9 + /- 5.3 kg/m2 ) . The obese patients were r and omized to start treatment with fluoxetine ( group A ) or placebo ( group B ) for 3 months ( period 1 ) . After a 1-month washout period , treatment was crossed for the following 3 months ( period 2 ) . There was no significant difference in weight loss when the patients were treated with fluoxetine ( group A period 1 and group B period 2 ) as compared with patients treated with placebo ( group B period 1 and group A period 2 ) . There were no significant differences in monthly weight reduction during both treatments . In conclusion , we demonstrated that serotoninergic drugs such as fluoxetine need further investigation before being used indiscriminately in obese subjects
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 .