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Major depressive episodes and diet pills
1Departments of Community Health Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4N1. patten@ucalgary.ca
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
|October 22, 2002
Summary
Certain weight loss medications may trigger depression, particularly older psychostimulants and fenfluramine. Newer drugs like sibutramine and orlistat lack evidence of causing depression, but it remains a concern in obese patients.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry
- Obesity Medicine
Background:
- Weight loss medications have been linked to depressive symptoms.
- Phenylethylamine agents, non-phenylethylamine psychostimulants (e.g., caffeine), and fenfluramine are implicated.
- Obesity is frequently comorbid with major depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the association between weight loss medications and depression.
- To assess the risk of major depression with modern weight loss drugs.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on weight loss drugs and depression.
- Analysis of existing evidence regarding drug-induced mood disorders.
Main Results:
- Older weight loss drugs, including psychostimulants and fenfluramine, are associated with depression.
- Current evidence does not link sibutramine or orlistat to major depression.
- Major depression is common in obese individuals and can impact weight loss treatment outcomes.
Conclusions:
- While newer agents like sibutramine and orlistat may not directly cause depression, it remains a critical clinical consideration in obese patients.
- The high prevalence of depression in obesity and its impact on treatment necessitate careful monitoring.
- Further research may be needed to fully elucidate the relationship between all weight loss interventions and mood disorders.