To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Orlistat and Metformin Protect Against Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain: Presented at ADAA URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/259192.htm Doctor's Guide March 27, 2006
By Fran Lowry MIAMI, F.L. -- March 27, 2006 -- Adjunctive use of both orlistat and metformin produced an improvement in body weight and body mass index (BMI), as well as protection against future weight gain in patients with antidepressant-induced weight gain, according to a small prospective study presented here at the 26th Annual Conference of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA). Nikhil D. Nihalani, MD, Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, New York, United States, presented the findings on March 25th. "Weight gain is a common side effect of many psychotropic medications and the amount and mechanism by which weight gain occurs has been largely addressed for mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medication," Dr. Nihalani explained. "However, very little literature addresses the weight gain seen with the newer antidepressants, or how to manage it." Patients in his open-label, 12-week study had a self-reported weight gain of more than 4.5 kg (10 lbs) as a direct, chronological result of antidepressant use. They were given either metformin 1000 -2000 mg/day or orlistat 120-360 mg/day in addition to their usual antidepressant. A control group was given no adjunctive medication. In addition, 2 patients received the antiepileptic agent topiramate, 50-400 mg/day, but dropped out of the study due to adverse effects. Two patients in the orlistat group dropped out due to severe diarrhea, and one patient in the metformin group dropped out without giving a reason, Dr. Nihalani reported. From study entry to week 12, the 8 patients in the metformin group had a median weight loss of 2.5 kg (5.4 lbs) and the 11 patients on orlistat had a median weight loss of 2.2 kg (4.9 lbs). In contrast, the 6 control patients, who received no adjunctive medication, had a weight gain of 7.0 kg (15.4 lbs), Dr. Nihalani said. The metformin and orlistat groups also had reductions in BMI of 0.7 and -0.8, while controls had a median BMI increase of 1.4. Body fat percentage increased in all patient groups, but this increase was the least in patients taking orlistat. The changes did not reach statistical significance due to the small sample size, he said. The main adverse effect associated with Orlistat was diarrhea, while for topiramate, it was acidosis. Metformin did not elicit any major symptoms, Dr. Nihalani said. "Clinically significant trends were noted in that both metformin and orlistat allow about 5 lbs [2 kg] of weight loss, while the control group gained over 15 lbs [7 kg]. This suggests that either of these 2 agents may protect against 20 lbs [9 kg] of weight gain over 12 weeks in some subjects," Dr. Nihalani said. [Presentation title: Effectiveness of Orlistat, Metformin and Topiramate for Antidepressant Weight Gain – A Pilot Study. Abstract 320] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.