Antidepressant medicines for bulimia nervosa
Antidepressant medicines reduce binge eating and purging in up to 75% of people who have bulimia nervosa.1 Antidepressants that are most commonly used to reduce the binge-purge cycle associated with bulimia are:
- Fluoxetine (such as Prozac), which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Other SSRIs have not yet been proven to be effective for bulimia.
- Tricyclics, such as imipramine (Tofranil, for example), amitriptyline (Elavil, for example), and desipramine (Norpramin, for example).
Antidepressants regulate brain chemicals that control mood. Guilt, anxiety, and depression about binging usually lead to purging. Antidepressants help keep emotions stable and can help reduce the frequency of binge-purge cycles.2
Antidepressants may produce some side effects. But side effects may be reduced or may go away after several weeks of treatment.
Before starting an antidepressant, tell your doctor about every medicine or supplement (prescription or nonprescription) that you are taking. Some antidepressants can have serious interactions with other medicines or dietary supplements.
Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine (such as Prozac) reduces binge-purge cycles in bulimia.3
Studies show that the side effects of fluoxetine bother people less than the side effects of other antidepressants, such as tricyclics.4 This medicine also has a low risk of overdose, and it does not require diet changes. Although side effects of fluoxetine are usually mild, they can include nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, anxiety, irritability, problems sleeping or drowsiness, loss of sexual desire or ability, headaches, dizziness, and dry mouth.
Tricyclic antidepressants
Tricyclic side effects can include stomach upset, constipation, dry mouth, blurred vision, and drowsiness. Some people gain weight and have problems with sexual desire and ability. Tricyclics are started in low doses and gradually increased to avoid overdose and other serious side effects.
FDA Advisory
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advisory on antidepressant medicines and the risk of suicide. The FDA does not recommend that people stop using these medicines. Instead, a person taking antidepressants should be watched for warning signs of suicide. This is especially important at the beginning of treatment or when the doses are changed.
What to think about
You may start to feel better within 1 to 3 weeks of taking antidepressant medicine. But it can take as many as 6 to 8 weeks to see more improvement. If you have questions or concerns about your medicines, or if you do not notice any improvement by 3 weeks, talk to your doctor.
Antidepressants work best when combined with psychological counseling for the treatment of bulimia.5
Studies have found daily use of SSRIs may increase the risk of bone fracture in adults over age 50. Talk to your doctor about this risk before taking an SSRI.
People who purge after they take antidepressants may not get enough of the medicine into their blood. Health professionals may recommend that they take antidepressant medicine at bedtime after they have stopped purging. People who purge often need to have their blood checked regularly to measure the amount of medicine in their bloodstream.
| Author: | Jeannette Curtis | Last Updated: October 4, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine W. Stewart Agras, MD - Psychiatry | |
 | ||