Use of fluoxetine to reduce weight in adults with overweight or obesity: Abridged republication of the Cochrane Systematic Review

Introduction: Using fluoxetine is one of many weight-loss strategies. A serotonin reuptake inhibitor indicated for depression believed to impact weight control by changing an individual’s appetite; however, its benefit-risk ratio is unclear. The aim of this review is to assess the efficacy and safet...

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Main Authors: Aurora E. Serralde-Zuñiga, Alejandro G. González-Garay, Yanelli Rodríguez-Carmona, Guillermo Meléndez-Mier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Karger Publishers 2022-06-01
Series:Obesity Facts
Online Access:https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/524995
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author Aurora E. Serralde-Zuñiga
Alejandro G. González-Garay
Yanelli Rodríguez-Carmona
Guillermo Meléndez-Mier
author_facet Aurora E. Serralde-Zuñiga
Alejandro G. González-Garay
Yanelli Rodríguez-Carmona
Guillermo Meléndez-Mier
author_sort Aurora E. Serralde-Zuñiga
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Using fluoxetine is one of many weight-loss strategies. A serotonin reuptake inhibitor indicated for depression believed to impact weight control by changing an individual’s appetite; however, its benefit-risk ratio is unclear. The aim of this review is to assess the efficacy and safety of fluoxetine in reducing weight in adults with overweight or obesity. Methods: We searched Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase and other databases without language restrictions. Cochrane Collaboration tool and GRADE instrument assessed the risk of bias of randomised controlled trials and certainty of their evidence. We conducted random-effects meta-analyses and calculated the risk ratio/mean difference with 95% confidence intervals for the outcomes. Results: We included 19 trials (2,216 adults) and found that fluoxetine may reduce weight by −2.7 kg (95% CI −4 to −1.4; P < 0.001) and body mass index (BMI) by −1.1 kg/m2 (95% CI −3.7 to 1.4), compared with placebo; however, it would cause approximately twice as many adverse events, such as dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, insomnia or nausea. Conclusions: Although low-certainty evidence suggests that off-label fluoxetine may reduce weight, high-certainty research is needed to be conducted in the future to determine its effects exclusively as well as whether it is useful when combined with other agents. This article is based on a Cochrane Review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2019, Issue 10, DOI: 10.1002/14651858. CD011688.pub2. Cochrane Reviews are regularly updated as new evidence emerges, and in response to feedback, it should be consulted for the most recent version of the review.
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spelling doaj.art-b27f41692c5a49d2996e1dee31362b952022-12-22T03:31:39ZengKarger PublishersObesity Facts1662-40251662-40332022-06-0110.1159/000524995524995Use of fluoxetine to reduce weight in adults with overweight or obesity: Abridged republication of the Cochrane Systematic ReviewAurora E. Serralde-Zuñigahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5579-1450Alejandro G. González-GarayYanelli Rodríguez-CarmonaGuillermo Meléndez-MierIntroduction: Using fluoxetine is one of many weight-loss strategies. A serotonin reuptake inhibitor indicated for depression believed to impact weight control by changing an individual’s appetite; however, its benefit-risk ratio is unclear. The aim of this review is to assess the efficacy and safety of fluoxetine in reducing weight in adults with overweight or obesity. Methods: We searched Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase and other databases without language restrictions. Cochrane Collaboration tool and GRADE instrument assessed the risk of bias of randomised controlled trials and certainty of their evidence. We conducted random-effects meta-analyses and calculated the risk ratio/mean difference with 95% confidence intervals for the outcomes. Results: We included 19 trials (2,216 adults) and found that fluoxetine may reduce weight by −2.7 kg (95% CI −4 to −1.4; P < 0.001) and body mass index (BMI) by −1.1 kg/m2 (95% CI −3.7 to 1.4), compared with placebo; however, it would cause approximately twice as many adverse events, such as dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, insomnia or nausea. Conclusions: Although low-certainty evidence suggests that off-label fluoxetine may reduce weight, high-certainty research is needed to be conducted in the future to determine its effects exclusively as well as whether it is useful when combined with other agents. This article is based on a Cochrane Review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2019, Issue 10, DOI: 10.1002/14651858. CD011688.pub2. Cochrane Reviews are regularly updated as new evidence emerges, and in response to feedback, it should be consulted for the most recent version of the review.https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/524995
spellingShingle Aurora E. Serralde-Zuñiga
Alejandro G. González-Garay
Yanelli Rodríguez-Carmona
Guillermo Meléndez-Mier
Use of fluoxetine to reduce weight in adults with overweight or obesity: Abridged republication of the Cochrane Systematic Review
Obesity Facts
title Use of fluoxetine to reduce weight in adults with overweight or obesity: Abridged republication of the Cochrane Systematic Review
title_full Use of fluoxetine to reduce weight in adults with overweight or obesity: Abridged republication of the Cochrane Systematic Review
title_fullStr Use of fluoxetine to reduce weight in adults with overweight or obesity: Abridged republication of the Cochrane Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Use of fluoxetine to reduce weight in adults with overweight or obesity: Abridged republication of the Cochrane Systematic Review
title_short Use of fluoxetine to reduce weight in adults with overweight or obesity: Abridged republication of the Cochrane Systematic Review
title_sort use of fluoxetine to reduce weight in adults with overweight or obesity abridged republication of the cochrane systematic review
url https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/524995
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