Menstrual cycle effects on the action of buspirone on food intake in healthy female volunteers.
Goodall EM., Whittle M., Cookson J., Cowen PJ., Silverstone T.
We studied the effect of single doses of the 5-HT(1A) agonist buspirone (10 mg and 20 mg) on food intake during the menstrual cycle of nine healthy women, none of whom were on a contraceptive pill. In a double-blind placebo-controlled trial, subjects were tested over three cycles, receiving one treatment per cycle. Within each cycle, they were tested at two time points; mid-follicular and late luteal. Food intake following 20 mg buspirone was significantly higher in the luteal phase, suggesting the possibility of pre-menstrually enhanced 5-HT receptor sensitivity.