Source: Transfusion  |  Posted 8 years ago

Obese patients with binge eating disorder (BED) treated with sibutramine show a reduction in weight, depression, and binge frequency and severity, say researchers.

Associated with psychiatric conditions such as depression, BED is a newly recognised condition that commonly affects obese patients. Pharmacologic intervention has most often included anti-depressant and anticonvulsant agents.

Jose C Appolonario, MD, DSc, and colleagues at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, evaluated the effectiveness of the anti-obesity agent sibutramine in obese patients with BED. Sibutramine induces weight loss by physiological effects on satiety and thermogenesis.

The double-blind study included 60 patients (53 women, mean age 36) with a BMI between 30 and 45 kg/m[^]2[] who were confirmed to have BED. Patients were randomised to receive either sibutramine hydrochloride (15 mg/day) or placebo for 12 weeks.

A 66% decrease in binge days was seen with patients in the sibutramine group, compared to only a 41% decrease in patients in the placebo group. This effect was noted after only 2 weeks and was maintained throughout treatment.

A concomitant effect on weight was also observed. Patients given sibutramine lost on average 7.4 kg by week 12 and placebo patients gained 1.4 kg ([]P[] < .001). Weight loss correlated significantly with a decrease in binge frequency.

A significant reduction in depressive symptoms also occurred during sibutramine treatment. Beck Depression Inventory scores decreased by 43% in patients taking sibutramine and by only 4% in the control group.

Dry mouth and constipation were the only adverse events associated with sibutramine. No effects on systolic or diastolic blood pressure were seen; though an increase in heart rate was recorded.

Dr. Appolonario concludes that "sibutramine [was] effective in reducing binge eating, body weight and associated depressive symptoms in [this] short-term study." "Sibutramine is a promising agent to be used in obese patients with binge eating disorder," though "these preliminary findings need to be further replicated," he adds.