Pharmacologic Treatment of Eating Disorders

Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2019 Jun;42(2):253-262. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2019.01.007. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Abstract

Medications are a useful adjunct to nutritional and psychotherapeutic treatments for eating disorders. Antidepressants are commonly used to treat bulimia nervosa; high-dose fluoxetine is a standard approach, but many other antidepressants can be used. Binge eating disorder can be treated with antidepressants, with medications that diminish appetite, or with lisdexamfetamine. Anorexia nervosa does not generally respond to medications, although recent evidence supports modest weight restoration benefits from olanzapine.

Keywords: Anorexia nervosa; Binge eating disorder; Bulimia nervosa; Eating disorders; Fluoxetine; Medication.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anorexia Nervosa / drug therapy*
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / therapeutic use*
  • Binge-Eating Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Bulimia Nervosa / drug therapy*
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / therapeutic use*
  • Fluoxetine / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Fluoxetine
  • Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate