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 .
Assessing baseline imbalance in randomised trials: implications for the Cochrane risk of bias tool.
A key component of the Cochrane Collaboration 's risk of bias tool for critically evaluating r and omised trials is the consideration of whether baseline characteristics of the treatment groups being compared are systematic ally different . Considered under the domain of ' selection bias ' , this is currently evaluated by looking at the methods of r and omisation and specifically at the generation of the r and omised allocation sequence and the concealment of this sequence during the process of r and omisation . Assessment of the actual similarity of baseline variables across groups in demographic and clinical characteristics is seldom performed . Even when performed , the link with selection bias is sometimes not considered . Methods of r and omisation and allocation concealment are often poorly reported in published trials , yet baseline data tables are presented in a large majority of trial reports . In this article , we propose that assessment of trial baseline data should form a key and prominent part of selection bias judgements when using the risk of bias tool . We outline the possible benefits from using this approach , including reduced uncertainty in systematic review conclusions , reduced risk of chance findings being ascribed to treatment effects and better use of available evidence by a more considered approach to evaluating studies using imperfect r and omisation and allocation methods
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 .