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Recovery from an eating disorder is challenging.
If you or a loved one has an eating disorder, you may be wondering: Can medication help?
The answer is complicated.
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However, some medications may help treat eating disorders and other co-occurring illnesses.
For eating disorders, food (and the normalization of eating patterns) is the primary medicine.
A thoroughdiagnostic evaluationwith apsychiatristis always recommended before beginning any regimen of psychiatric medication.
Anorexia Nervosa
Medication should generally not be the initial or primary treatment foranorexia nervosa.
No medication has yet been FDA approved for the treatment of anorexia.
It is often prescribed for patients who have under-responded to nutritional restoration and psychotherapy.
This may be becausestarvation affects the function of neurotransmittersin the brain.
Benzodiazepines for Anorexia
Sometimes, benzodiazepines may be prescribed for use before meals to reduce anxiety.
However, no research supports this practice, and benzodiazepines can become addictive.
Benzodiazepines can lead to dependence and addiction even when taken as prescribed.
People also experience potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing benzodiazepines.
If you are taking these medications, it is not safe to stop taking them on your own.
Always talk to your doctor first about gradually tapering your medication under their supervision.
This is often accompanied by the loss of a menstrual period (menses).
Doctors commonly prescribe birth control pills in an attempt to restart menses and minimize bone weakness.
Ultimately, birth control pills are not recommended for purposes beyond birth control.
SSRIs for Bulimia
A primary goal of treatment for bulimia nervosa isstopping the bingeing and purging.
This class of medications has demonstrated helpfulness in improving co-occurring symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Treatment studies show that SSRIs are most effective when combined with psychotherapy.Medication may make psychotherapy more effective for some.
Medication alone is not as effective for most patients as psychotherapy alone.
Medication may also be effective when combined withself-help and guided self-help approaches.
If Prozac does not work, other SSRIs are often tried next.
It is not uncommon for other agents, such as the anticonvulsanttopiramate, to be used off-label for bulimia.
Topiramate can also help reduce the frequency of binges and may also reduce obsessive thoughts and impulsivity.
Summary
In general, medication is not typically the primary mode of treatment for an eating disorder.
Medication may be helpful when added to psychotherapy or when psychotherapy is not available.
However, medications can carry a risk for side effects that are not found with psychological therapies.
There are varioustreatments for eating disordersthat are considered efficacious, includingcognitive behavioral therapyandfamily-based treatment.
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Eli Lilly and Company; 2017.
Berkman ND, Brownley KA, Peat CM, et al.Management and Outcomes of Binge-Eating Disorder.
Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); December 2015.
