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Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Using the Activity-based Anorexia Rodent Model to Study the Neurobiological Basis of Anorexia Nervosa
Published on: October 22, 2015
Antihistamine agents and pitolisant might be useful for anorexia nervosa
1Foundation for Research and Education of Eating Disorders FREED, 11 Irvington Street, Waban, MA 02468, United States.
Abstract:
This hypothesis is that patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) demonstrate derangement in the histamine central nervous system. It might be possible to ameliorate these by careful use of histamine receptor antagonists targeting Histamine 1, 2, or 3 receptors. Histamine 3 receptors are exclusively present in the brain. Pitolisant is the only one agent currently available that targets these receptors. Pitolisant (brand name Wakix) was approved in the European Union, as a treatment for narcolepsy in March 2016.
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