Could a diabetes drug lift depression in obese patients?

NCT ID NCT06707012

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether adding metformin, a common diabetes drug, to standard antidepressants can better improve depression symptoms in obese patients. Researchers will compare two groups of 140 newly diagnosed depressed adults with a BMI over 25: one gets metformin, the other a placebo. The main goal is to see if depression scores drop more with metformin, and they will also check changes in stress-related blood markers.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: metformin
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a simple, low-cost way to boost depression treatment in people with obesity.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial. Metformin is already used for diabetes, but its effect on depression is unproven, and results may not apply to everyone.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Depression depressive disorder Obesity

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

DEPRESSION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Fazaia Rurh Pfau Medical College
RECRUITING

Karachi, Sindh, 75120, Pakistan
Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College
RECRUITING

Karachi, Sindh, 75120, Pakistan

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