FENFLURAMINES APPETITE SUPPRESSION AND SEROTONIN NEUROTOXICITY ARE SEPARABLE

To determine whether fenfluramine's anorectic and neurotoxic effects c ould be dissociated, rats were treated with fenfluramine or the seroto nin transporter blocker fluoxetine, alone or in combination. Fenfluram ine alone produced anorexia, weight loss and lasting depletions of bra in serotonin axon markers. Fluoxetine prevented fenfluramine-induced l ong-term serotonergic deficits, yet did not diminish fenfluramine's ac ute anorectic effects. These findings indicate that fenfluramine's ano rectic and neurotoxic actions are distinct and separable.