Editor—I am concerned that Russell in her editorial suggested that reboxetine and venlafaxine be used “early” in anorexia.1 This seems to be on the back of some tenuous genetic work and not on the basis of clinical trials.
I express this concern because these are “new antidepressants” with many years of profit to run for the pharmaceutical companies. We must be very circumspect about these new drugs until adequate clinical research supports their use over more traditional drugs. How many of the new psycho-active wonder drugs have in fact delivered a mental health utopia? What happened to the Prozac generation? Are they still smiling?
Competing interests: DS supports nofreelunch UK.
References
- 1.Russell J. Management of anorexia nervosa revisited. BMJ 2004;328: 479-80. (28 February.) [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]