Abstract
Background and objective:
Atomoxetine is a potent central norepinephrine uptake inhibitor, currently marketed for treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). With the understanding that noradrenergic agents could be useful in assisting obese individuals to lose weight, we conducted this preliminary study to evaluate short-term efficacy and safety of atomoxetine in obese adults.
Design:
At 12-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, conducted at Duke University Medical Centre, USA, from May 2004 to December 2004.
Participants:
A total of 30 obese women (mean (s.e.) body mass index of 36.1 (0.6) kg/m2).
Interventions:
Participants were randomly assigned to receive atomoxetine (n=15) or placebo (n=15). All participants were advised to follow a balanced hypocaloric diet (500 kcal/day deficit). Atomoxetine therapy was started at 25 mg/day orally, with gradual increase to 100 mg/day over 1 week. Placebo dosing was identical.
Measurements:
Body weight in kilograms was the primary outcome measure. Other measurements included waist circumference, blood pressure and heart rate, fasting plasma glucose and lipids, and depressive symptoms.
Results:
Last-observation-carried-forward analysis of the available data for participants who had completed at least one post-randomisation assessment, demonstrated that the atomoxetine group (n=12) lost more body weight over the 12-week period than the placebo (n=14) group (mean (s.e.) −3.6 (1.0) kg (−3.7% loss) vs 0.1 (0.4) kg (0.2% gain); F4,96=11.9; P<0.0001). Three participants in the atomoxetine group and none in the placebo group lost ⩾5% weight. Side effects were minimal.
Conclusion:
Atomoxetine demonstrated modest short-term weight loss efficacy relative to placebo in this preliminary study of obese women.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Goldstein DJ . Beneficial health effects of modest weight loss. Int J Obes 1992; 6: 397–415.
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults: The Evidence Report. National Institutes of Health: Bethesda, MD, September 1998. Publication 98-4083.
Yanovski SN, Yanovski JA . Obesity. N Engl J Med 2002; 346: 591–602.
Hoebel BG, Leibowitz SF . Brain monoamines in the regulation of self-stimulation, feeding and body weight. In: Weiner H, Hofer MA, Stunkard AJ (eds.) The Psychobiology of Human Eating Disorders.. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences: New York, 1989. pp 307–320.
Schwartz MW, Baskin DG, Kaiyala KJ, Woods SC . Model for the regulation of energy balance and adiposity by the central nervous system. Am J Clin Nutr 1999; 69: 584–596.
Product information brochure for Strattera capsules. Eli Lilly and Company, 2002.
Hamilton M . A rating scale for depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1960; 23: 56–62.
Thase ME, Fava M, Halbreich U, Kocsis JH, Koran L, Davidson J et al. A placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial comparing sertraline and imipramine for the treatment of dysthymia. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1996; 53: 777–784.
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by a grant from Eli Lilly and Company to Dr Gadde.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gadde, K., Yonish, G., Wagner, H. et al. Atomoxetine for weight reduction in obese women: a preliminary randomised controlled trial. Int J Obes 30, 1138–1142 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803223
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803223
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Personalizing atomoxetine dosing in children with ADHD: what can we learn from current supporting evidence
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (2023)
-
Atomoxetine treatment for nicotine withdrawal: a pilot double-blind, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose study in adult smokers
Annals of General Psychiatry (2012)
-
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and the Clinical Management of Obesity
Current Obesity Reports (2012)
-
Adjunctive atomoxetine to SSRIs or SNRIs in the treatment of adult ADHD patients with comorbid partially responsive generalized anxiety (GA): an open-label study
ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders (2011)
-
European guidelines on managing adverse effects of medication for ADHD
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (2011)