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 .
Effect of serotonin re-uptake inhibition by fluoxetine on body weight and spontaneous food choice in obesity.
The effect of fluoxetine on body weight and spontaneous food choice was studied in twenty-three healthy , non-depressed , obese females on an outpatient basis . After a one week placebo run-in period , subjects were r and omized to receive either fluoxetine ( FXT ) 60 mg daily ( n = 11 ) or placebo ( P ) ( n = 12 ) for 6 weeks in a double blind study design .  BMI ( 35.2 + /- 0.8 vs 36.4 + /- 1.3 kg/m2 , mean + /- s.e.m . ) and age ( 38.1 + /- 239 vs 37.3 + /- 2.7 years ) were not different in either group . No specific diet was prescribed . On four separate days per 14 days food records were collected . Data were analysed with the use of food composition tables . Statistical analysis was performed using Student 's t test for independent sample s for data on body weight and calorie intake . Macro-nutrient composition of the diet was analysed using multivariate analysis of variance and post hoc Student 's t test for independent sample s. All subjects lost weight during fluoxetine treatment . Mean ( + /- s.e.m . ) weight loss in the fluoxetine treated group was 3.6 + /- 0.5 kg , compared to a mean weight gain of 0.3 + /- 0.5 kg in the placebo treated group ( P less than 0.001 ) . In all patients food intake was reduced during fluoxetine treatment and this reduction could fully account for the observed weight loss . The mean total caloric intake per day was significantly lower during fluoxetine treatment compared with placebo ( FXT 1123 + /- 118 kcal vs P 1845 + /- 87 kcal , P less than 0.001 ) . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS
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 .