1. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2001 Jul;82(7):867-71.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Their effect on high-intensity exercise performance.

Parise G(1), Bosman MJ, Boecker DR, Barry MJ, Tarnopolsky MA.

Departments of Kinesiology and Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the neuromuscular and performance effects of acute and long-term
exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

DESIGN: Two randomized, double-blind, crossover studies.

SETTING: Departments of Kinesiology and Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS: Eleven healthy, college-aged men in the acute study; 12 healthy, college-aged men in
the chronic study.

INTERVENTIONS: In the acute study, subjects were given a placebo and fluoxetine (40 mg) 6 hours
before testing, in the chronic study, they were given fluoxetine (40mg/d) and an identical placebo for
2 weeks before testing.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Target measures were maximum voluntary contractions (MVCs), evoked
peak torque, and percentage of motor unit activation for muscle strength and central drive. Repeated
Wingate cycle ergometer tests were used to measure anaerobic power, capacity, and fatigue index.
VO2max tests (80%, 90%) were used to measure time to exhaustion and cardiorespiratory responses.

RESULTS: In the acute study phase, MVC was lower for fluoxetine versus placebo (p=.05) and a slight
fatigue resistance was measured in the repeated Wingate tests for the fluoxetine group; however,
there were no effects on any other measured variable. In the chronic study phase, minute ventilation
was lower for the fluoxetine trial (p <.05); however, there were no treatment effects on any of the
other measurements.

CONCLUSION: Acute and chronic SSRI intake does not affect strength or high-intensity exercise
performance in young adult men.

Copyright 2001 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

DOI: 10.1053/apmr.2001.23275

PMID: 11441370 [Indexed for MEDLINE]