Biological actions of drugs affecting serotonin and eating

Abstract

The present status of knowledge on drugs affecting food intake and presumably acting via a serotoninergic mechanism is reviewed. The mechanism of action of these drugs is analyzed at the neurochemical level. All the drugs, to various extents, inhibit the uptake of serotonin (5HT), increase the release of 5HT and decrease brain levels of 5HT and 5HIAA. However, the underlying mechanisms are not identical as exemplified by comparisons made with d-fenfluramine, d-norfenfluramine, fluoxetine, sertraline and paroxetine. An analysis of the role of 5HT in the inhibition of food intake reveals that only d-fenfluramine is inhibited by antiserotonin agents. The role of the different 5HT receptor-subtypes in this antagonism is discussed. More selective 5HT antagonists are needed to establish which 5HT receptor(s) controls food intake.