Thomas N. Wise David G. S. Perahia Beth A. Pangallo William G. Losin Curtis G. Wiltse
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Objective: To assess the effect of
duloxetine, an inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine
reuptake, on body weight of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).
Method: Body weight data were
obtained from all 10 phase II and III registration studies
of duloxetine in the treatment of MDD, as defined by the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), performed by Eli Lilly and Company between
February 1999 and July 2003. Both acute (8-9
weeks) and long-term (26, 34, and 52 weeks)
studies were analyzed.
Results: In the acute placebo-controlled
studies, duloxetine-treated patients had a mean change of -0.5 kg compared with a change of
0.2 kg for placebo-treated patients (p < .001); no
consistent relationship between duloxetine dose
and weight change was observed. In placebo-controlled studies including an active
comparator arm, similar acute mean weight changes
were seen in duloxetine-treated and
fluoxetine-treated patients (-0.7 kg vs. -0.6 kg) and in
duloxetine-treated and paroxetine-treated patients (-0.3
kg vs. -0.2 kg). During longer-term treatment (34 weeks), mean weight change in patients
treated with duloxetine 40 mg b.i.d. was not
significantly different from that seen in placebo-treated
patients (0.7 kg vs. 0.1 kg), while patients
treated with the higher duloxetine dose of 60 mg b.i.d.
or with paroxetine gained significantly (p <=
.05) more weight than placebo-treated patients
(0.9 kg, 1.0 kg, and 0.1 kg, respectively). In a
52-week open-label study, duloxetine-treated patients
had a mean weight gain of 1.1 kg at endpoint (p
< .001).
Conclusion: Duloxetine-treated patients
experienced weight loss after short-term
treatment, followed by modest weight gain on
longer-term treatment. The size of the weight changes
observed suggests that the antidepressant
duloxetine has minimal effects on weight for the majority
of patients.
Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry 2006;8(5):269-278
https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.v08n0503
© Copyright 2006 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.