The clinical efficacy of a 5-HT1A agonist, SM-3997, in the treatment of bulimia.
Psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatment of bulimia and vomiting require long duration and frequently entail considerable obstacles in patience compliance, making such regimens difficult to pursue. The regulating mechanism of the appetite center is recognized to be complex and recently an important role of serotonin (5-HT), a neurotransmitter, has been shown in rats. In the present study a newly developed 5-HT1A agonist, SM-3997, was administered to 12 patients with bulimia and its clinical efficacy was evaluated. The patients were treated on an open basis with SM-3997, 30-40 mg/day, for 6-15 weeks. Bulimic behavior stopped completely in 4 patients, was improved in 4 others and was unchanged in the remaining 4. These results suggest that the administration of a 5-HT1A agonist, SM-3997, may be effective in the treatment of bulimia and vomiting and that further investigation is warranted.
Tamai
H
H
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Japan.
Komaki
G
G
Kubota
S
S
Kobayashi
N
N
Matsubayashi
S
S
Mori
K
K
Nakagawa
T
T
Takayama
T
T
Kimura
M
M
Kumagai
L F
LF
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002032:Bulimia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054833:Isoindoles; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D054833:Isoindoles; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; C055267:tandospirone