Recovery

Drug therapy in the treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa should be used in combination with psychotherapy and nutritional therapy.

For anorexia nervosa, medications are used most frequently after weight and normal eating behaviors have been restored. Medications including certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, and gastrointestinal stimulants are used to treat psychiatric and gastrointestinal symptoms that may coincide with eating disorders.

For bulimia nervosa, medications are used to reduce the frequency of disturbed eating behaviors such as binge eating and vomiting. Medications are often used to improve symptoms that may accompany depression, anxiety, or obsessive behaviors. The medications used in the treatment of bulimia nervosa include antidepressants and the antipsychotic drug lithium. The long-term benefits of using antidepressants for bulimia nervosa are unclear, as relapse rates are high with up to 80% of patients relapsing.

To learn more about the drugs used to treat eating disorders, click on the drug class links below.

Although eating disorders are treatable and many people recover from them, recovery is a complex process that can take several months or even years. Some individuals do better than others - the success often depends on the individual's drive to seek help and reach out to their support system. Seeking treatment from physicians and psychiatrists typically offers the greatest success in the recovery process. For more info 

Medication Drugs

Abilify

Clozaril

Zyprexa, Zyprex Zydis

Seroquel

Risperdal

Risperdal Consta

Risperdal Oral Soluion

Geodon

Ziprasidone

Medications used in treatment of anorexic nervosa. This works by binding to specific receptors in the brain to help correct imbalances of certain chemicals. The correction of these chemicals helps to relieve the anxiety associated with eating in anorexic individuals.

 

Lithium has been shown to decrease the desire to binge eat and decrease vomiting episodes in both bulimics and anorexics individuals with the binge/purge subtype.

 

Clopra

Maxolon

Octemide

Reclomide

Reglan Oral

Medications used to relieve bloating, constipation and gastroparesis (disorder in the stomach takes too long to empty its contents) associated with anorexia nervosa.

 

Celexa

Celexa Solution

Lexapro

Prozac

Prozac Weekly

Sarafem

Prozac Oral Solution

Paxil

Paxil CR

Paxil Suspension

Zoloft

Zoloft Oral Solution

These medications are typically started after the weight restoration has been achieved in individuals with eating disorders. It is thought that antidepressants may improve the individual’s mood and body image while reducing the obsessive focus on food and dieting and the frequency of binges.

CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST ABOUT TAKING ANY PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION.