Effects of mazindol in two patients with Prader-Willi syndrome

Two patients with Prader-Willi syndrome, including gross obesity with food-related behavior and mild mental retardation, are presented. One patient was an 11-year-old girl with the diagnosis of development delay, hypoactivity, and waxy skin with normal female karyotype. The other patient was a 15-year-old girl with the diagnosis of abnormal chromosome 15. Obesity had been present since early childhood, and it was difficult for them to manage their weight control by means of diet and exercise therapy. With 24-week mazindol administration, they demonstrated marked improvement in weight control during the early period and improvement in pathologic behavior without side effects. Mazindol was given orally, 1.0–2.0 mg/day, in one or two daily doses. Mazindol may prove to be useful in the treatment of patients with Prader-Willi syndrome.