Treatment Options - Psychopharmacology
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Psychopharmacology
Psychopharmacology for Eating Disorders
Psychiatric medications are often used as part of comprehensive treatment for patients with eating disorders. Medications can be extremely helpful for some patients but are not appropriate for everyone.
In some studies, medication has been found to help patients reduce the frequency of bingeing and purging behavior. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (Prozac) is FDA approved for the treatment of Bulimia Nervosa. Other medications sometimes used for bingeing and purging behavior include the mood stabilizer topiramate (Topamax), the opioid antagonist naloxone (Naltrexone) and the anti-nausea medication ondansetron (Zofran).
There is less evidence that medications are useful specifically for weight gain in patients with Anorexia Nervosa. However, medications can be very helpful to target specific symptoms that often accompany eating disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Some psychiatrists also use atypical antipsychotics --such as risperidone (Risperidal) and olanzapine (Zyprexa) -- for the severely distorted thinking found in some patients with eating disorders.
When using psychiatric medications in patients with eating disorders, it is important to be mindful of the impact of malnutrition and purging on the medications. Antidepressants generally appear to be less effective in patients who are significantly underweight. Frequent purging may interfere with the absorption of medications. Patients with eating disorders are often more vulnerable to the side effects of some medications, such as lowered blood pressure. Thus, medications should ideally be prescribed by someone knowledgeable about eating disorders.
While psychiatric medications may greatly improve symptoms for some patients with eating disorders, they rarely eliminate all the difficulties associated with these illnesses. Medications are usually most beneficial for patients when they are used in conjunction with other treatment modalities.
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