ALPRAZOLAM INCREASES FOOD-INTAKE IN HUMANS

The present study investigated the effect of alprazolam on the pattern of food intake in seven male participants living in a residential lab oratory for 17 days. A wide selection of meals, snacks and beverages w as freely available. Capsule administration occurred at 1300 and 1730 hours. Food intake on days when alprazolam (0.75 mg) was administered (days 2, 11) was compared to days when no capsule (days 1, 9) or place bo (days 3, 10) was administered. Alprazolam increased total caloric i ntake by approximately 975 kcal from a baseline of 2800 kcal. Alprazol am increased the number of eating occasions occurring ill the evening (1700-2330 hour), without altering the size of eating occasions (kcal) , or the proportion of total calories derived from carbohydrate, fat a nd protein. These data demonstrate alprazolam's robust effects on food intake in humans.