Combined methylphenidate and fluoxetine treatment in adolescent rats significantly impairs weight gain with minimal effects on skeletal development.

Methylphenidate (MP) is frequently prescribed to treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); however, many patients with ADHD experience depression and anxiety. As such, concomitant administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine (FLX) is common. Our laboratory and others have shown that MP impairs skeletal development in preclinical and clinical settings, and FLX has also been linked to skeletal deficits.