Effect on body weight of bupropion sustained-release in patients with major depression treated for 52 weeks.
BACKGROUND
Short-term studies have demonstrated a modest weight-reducing to weight-neutral effect among patients receiving bupropion sustained-release (SR) for the treatment of depression.


OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to evaluate the long-term effects of bupropion SR on body weight in patients with depression.


METHODS
This analysis was conducted within a long-term relapse-prevention study in patients with major depression. Those whose depression had responded to open-label treatment with bupropion SR were randomized to 44 weeks of double-blind treatment with bupropion SR 300 mg/d or placebo. Patients were categorized by body mass index (BMI) as follows: BMI < 22, BMI 22 to 26, BMI > or = 27, and BMI > or = 30.


RESULTS
Four hundred twenty-three patients were enrolled in the double-blind phase of the study, 210 receiving bupropion SR and 213 receiving placebo. At the end of the open-label phase, the following mean weight losses were seen in the 4 BMI groups: BMI < 22, 0.5 kg; BMI 22 to 26, 1.1 kg; and BMI > or = 27 and BMI > or = 30, 1.8 kg each. At the end of double-blind treatment, mean change-from-baseline weights were as follows: BMI < 22, -0.1 kg; BMI 22 to 26, -0.6 kg; BMI > or = 27, -1.4 kg; and BMI > or = 30, -2.4 kg. The rate of change in body weight during the double-blind phase was statistically significant compared with baseline BMI (P < 0.001, analysis of covariance).


CONCLUSIONS
Modest mean weight losses that increased with increasing baseline body weight were observed with long-term bupropion SR treatment. The findings of this analysis suggest that bupropion SR may be an appropriate therapeutic option in normal-weight or overweight patients with depression who are concerned about weight gain.
Croft
Harry
H
Croft Group Research Center, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA. hacmd@aol.com
Houser
Trisha L
TL
Jamerson
Brenda D
BD
Leadbetter
Robert
R
Bolden-Watson
Carolyn
C
Donahue
Rafe
R
Metz
Alan
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016642:Bupropion / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016642:Bupropion