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Review
. 2018 Jan;17(1):17-23.
doi: 10.1080/14740338.2018.1395854. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

Safety of pharmacotherapy options for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder

Nicholas T Bello  1   2 , Bryn L Yeomans  1
Affiliations
Review

Safety of pharmacotherapy options for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder

Nicholas T Bello et al. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2018 Jan.

Abstract

Introduction: Eating disorders represent a set of psychiatric illnesses with lifelong complications and high relapse rates. Individuals with eating disorders are often stigmatized and clinicians have a limited set of treatments options. Pharmacotherapy has the potential to improve long term compliance and patient commitment to treatment for eating disorders.

Areas covered: This review will examine the efficacy and safety profile of the FDA-approved medications for the treatment of bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED). This will include the evaluation of fluoxetine for BN, and lisdexamfetamine for BED. Safety information will be review from randomized control trials (RCT), open label trials, and case reports.

Expert opinion: Fluoxetine for BN and lisdexamfetamine for BED are relatively safe and well-tolerated. Despite these properties, these two medications represent a limited arsenal for the pharmacological treatment of eating disorders. Thus, more research-based strategies are needed to develop safe, effective, and more targeted therapies for eating disorders.

Keywords: Prozac; bulimic; loss of control; therapeutic; vyvanse.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest

NT Bello is funded by an NIH grant and a Shire Grant. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

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