The effect of viloxazine on drug-induced inhibition of food intake in the rat.

In male Wistar rats trained to eat their normal daily dietary requirement in a restricted 2 h period, dose-dependent decreases in food consumption were produced by fenfluramine, tiflorex, mazindol and amphetamine. The antidepressant drug viloxazine (Vivalan) alone did not alter food intake significantly, nor did the drug prevent the inhibitory effects of either mazindol or amphetamine. However, complete prevention of the inhibitory effect of fenfluramine was achieved with 7.5 mg kg-1 viloxazine, while 40 mg kg-1 viloxazine similarly prevented the anorectic action of tiflorex. An interaction involving 5-hydroxytryptaminergic mechanisms is suggested, and since viloxazine given after fenfluramine or tiflorex produced no reversal of the inhibition of food intake, it is suggested that viloxazine prevents access of the anorectic agents to their site of action. The clinical significance of these interactions is discussed.