Twelve antidepressant drugs, currently in clinical use, were screened for thermogenic properties on the basis of their ability to stimulate the activity of the sympathetic nervous system via an inhibitory effect on noradrenaline reuptake into the sympathetic neurons. Drug screening was carried out on mice made obese by hypothalamic lesioning using monosodium glutamate. Preliminary experiments, based on changes in body weight and food intake in response to increased doses of the drugs, indicate that most of the twelve antidepressants possess thermogenic potential. In particular, butriptyline, protriptyline and nortriptyline were most effective in causing marked losses in body weight without altering the food intake of the mice. The potent anti-obesity thermogenic properties of these three antidepressants were confirmed during a 10-week energy balance study involving measurements of energy expenditure over the entire period by the comparative carcass method, as well as by measurement of 24 h oxygen consumption. These studies indicate that the methodology employed in the preliminary screening is valid for identifying drugs with thermogenic potential, and demonstrate that many antidepressants currently in clinical use have marked thermogenic properties, and could therefore influence the nutritional status of patients under drug therapy.Introduction

This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.