COMBINED NALOXONE AND FLUOXETINE ON DEPRIVATION-INDUCED BINGE-EATING OF PALATABLE FOODS IN RATS

Opioid antagonism and serotonergic stimulation is associated with macr onutrient-specific hypophagia in animals. In the present study we eval uated their systemic effect alone, and in combination, at Various dose s, on the intake of sweet carbohydrate-rich and sweet fat-rich foods, tastes, and nutrients that are typical of binge-food items. Low-dose ( 1 mg/kg) naloxone, alone, preferentially suppressed fat-rich intake wh ile low-dose (2.5 mg/kg) fluoxetine, alone, preferentially suppressed carbohydrate-rich intake. Each drug at these doses, combined with vari ous doses of the other (2.5-10 mg/kg fluoxetine; 0.01-1 mg/kg naloxone ) additively suppressed both kinds of the sweet foods. Naloxone and fl uoxetine have therapeutic potential in treating binge-eating disorders . This animal study suggests what shortcomings and benefits might be e xpected when combining these two agents. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc .