Treatment FAQ

what is considered the "gold standard" for the pharmaceutical treatment of bulimia nervosa?

by Mr. Clair Moore I Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) -- including Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, and Zoloft -- in combination with psychological therapies, are now a mainstay in bulimia therapy.

To date, fluoxetine remains the only medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of bulimia nervosa. The combination of CBT with fluoxetine therapy has been shown to be superior to medication or CBT alone.

Full Answer

Which of the following is most commonly associated with bulimia nervosa?

1. Helplessness 2. Binge eating 3. Disturbed self-concept 4. Impulsive stealing 5. Associates weight with self-worth 2. Binge eating 3. Disturbed self-concept 4. Impulsive stealing Binge eating, a disturbed self-concept, and impulsive stealing are all commonly associated with bulimia nervosa.

What is bulimia nervosa and how is it treated?

What Is Bulimia Nervosa? What Is the Treatment for Bulimia? The primary treatment for bulimia often combines psychotherapy, antidepressants, and nutritional counseling. It is helpful to find a psychologist or psychiatrist experienced in dealing with eating disorders.

What is an appropriate overall goal for a bulimia client?

4. "I always purge when I'm alone so that I'm not a bad role model for my younger sister." 2. "I'm both a hard worker and a compassionate person." An appropriate overall goal for the client with bulimia would include that the client be able to identify personal strengths, leading to improved self-esteem.

What should the nurse monitor a client diagnosed with bulimia nervosa?

A client diagnosed with bulimia nervosa frequently uses enemas and laxatives to purge. The nurse should monitor the client for which imbalance? 1. Elevated serum sodium level

What is the most effective treatment for bulimia?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) remain the most established treatments for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, with stepped-care approaches showing promise and new behavioral treatments under study.

What drugs are typically prescribed to treat bulimia nervosa?

Prozac is the only medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of bulimia. But your doctor might use other medications “off label” to help, including Zoloft and Paxil. Most clinicians agree that participating in a therapy program is one of the best ways to address bulimia.

What is considered the first line therapy for bulimia?

Antidepressants are the most extensively studied drugs for treating bulimia nervosa and should be considered as the first-line pharmacologic intervention. They have been shown to reduce the frequency of binge eating episodes and of purging behaviors.

Which drug has been used to help reduce binges and vomiting in persons with bulimia nervosa?

Medication: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a type of antidepressant. They can reduce the frequency of binge eating and vomiting. But the long-term effectiveness of these drugs isn't clear. They're also effective at treating anxiety and depression.

What class of medication is best for anorexia nervosa?

ANOREXIA: Fluoxetine (Prozac) may help people with anorexia nervosa overcome their depression and maintain a healthy weight once they have gotten their weight and eating under control. Fluoxetine is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Why is Prozac prescribed for bulimia?

Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Prozac has proven to reduce binge-purge cycles in bulimia. Antidepressant medicines may reduce episodes of binge eating in those who have binge eating disorder, and they may help with related depression or anxiety.

What is the best antidepressant for bulimia?

The Role of Fluoxetine In fact, fluoxetine is currently the only antidepressant medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for bulimia treatment, as it has been shown to decrease the frequency of binge eating and vomiting.

Which is used as first line outpatient psychological treatment for adolescents diagnosed with anorexia nervosa?

Bulimia Nervosa CBT is considered the first line treatment for BN in adults. Treatment targets normalizing eating patterns through the use of food diaries and behavioral experiment and supports cognitive change through problem solving and cognitive restructuring.

What is BN pharmacology?

Pharmacological Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa. Bulimia nervosa is a disorder with a complex cause. The disorder is most commonly seen in women, generally with onset in adolescence. Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a disorder with a complex cause. The disorder is most commonly seen in women, generally with onset in adolescence.

Can SSRIs help with BN?

Psychotropic medications, especially the SSRIs, are helpful for some patients with BN, at least in the short term. More than a decade has elapsed since the FDA approved fluoxetine for use in adult patients with BN, and few notable developments in medication management have taken place since that time.

What is the best treatment for bulimia?

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy or psychological counseling, involves discussing your bulimia and related issues with a mental health professional. Evidence indicates that these types of psychotherapy help improve symptoms of bulimia:

How to diagnose bulimia?

If your primary care provider suspects you have bulimia, he or she will typically: Talk to you about your eating habits, weight-loss methods and physical symptoms. Do a physical exam. Request blood and urine tests. Request a test that can identify problems with your heart (electrocardiogram)

What is the DSM-5?

Use the criteria for bulimia listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association.

How can a dietitian help with bulimia?

Dietitians can design an eating plan to help you achieve healthy eating habits to avoid hunger and cravings and to provide good nutrition. Eating regularly and not restricting your food intake is important in overcoming bulimia.

How do I get over bulimia?

Treatment. When you have bulimia, you may need several types of treatment, although combining psychotherapy with antidepressants may be the most effective for overcoming the disorder.

How to prevent relapse of eating disorder?

Learning positive ways to cope, creating healthy relationships and managing stress can help prevent a relapse. If you've had an eating disorder in the past and you notice your symptoms returning, seek help from your medical team immediately.

What to do if you have bulimia?

If you have bulimia, you and your family may find support groups helpful for encouragement, hope and advice on coping. Group members can truly understand what you're going through because they've been there. Ask your doctor if he or she knows of a group in your area.

What is the treatment for bulimia nervosa?

The principal psychosocial approach to the treatment of bulimia nervosa has been cognitive-behavioral therapy, the effectiveness of which has been extensively documented in controlled trials, with full recovery (cessation of binge eating and purging) in some 50% to 60% of patients.

Is interpersonal therapy effective for bulimia?

More recently, interpersonal therapy, first introduced for the treatment of depression, has been shown in preliminary studies to be as effective as cognitive-behavioral therapy, particularly at follow-up. The evidence for effectiveness of psychosocial therapies in bulimia nervosa is first reviewed, and consideration is then given to ...

What is bulimia nervosa?

Bulimia: Symptoms, diagnosis and treatments. Bulimia nervosa, often called bulimia, is an eating disorder. Individuals with bulimia eat large amounts of food in a relatively short time, often even when they aren't hungry. People with bulimia tend to feel out of control when eating and can't stop eating.

What is the best way to diagnose bulimia?

An important element for diagnosing bulimia is the individual's story of how she or he is feeling. A health care professional will also do a physical exam and may recommend blood tests to check for problems associated with vomiting or laxative use.

How do you know if you have bulimia?

Symptoms of bulimia include: extreme concern over body weight or body shape. eating large quantities of food over a short period, often in secret. binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting; use of laxatives, diuretics, enemas or suppositories; fasting or severe dieting; or excessive exercise.

How often do people with bulimia binge?

People with bulimia may binge a few times a week or as frequently as several times a day. Most people with bulimia are female (85% to 90%) and the disorder usually begins between ages 15 and 20. There are two types of bulimia: purging bulimia. A person with this type makes herself or himself vomit after binging. nonpurging bulimia.

What is the cause of bulimia?

Eating disorders such as bulimia tend to be caused by a mix of physical and emotional problems. Treatment usually aims to address all of these problems by: helping the individual understand and change harmful thought patterns related to bulimia.

Can laxatives cause bulimia?

Overuse of laxatives can cause chronic gastrointestinal problems. Severe bulimia can lead to heart problems, and sometimes can be deadly. Some individuals have bulimia for a short time, such as during a stressful a stage of life. Others have it for many years.

Does bulimia medication work?

But medication generally doesn't work alone , and is best when combined with psychotherapy and other kinds of support. About a quarter of individuals with bulimia get better without treatment. With treatment, more than half improve.

What is the best treatment for bulimia?

The primary treatment for bulimia often combines psychotherapy, anti depressants, and nutritional counseling. It is helpful to find a psychologist or psychiatrist experienced in dealing with eating disorders.

How to help bulimics?

Body exercises such as yoga, tai chi, qigong, and dance can help bulimics with their problems of body image. Reprogramming mental processes to gain control over the binge-and-purge cycles is another approach. Either hypnotherapy or EEG biofeedback may help.

Can hypnotherapy help with bulimia?

Either hypnotherapy or EEG biofeedback may help. If you seek help here, be sure to ask hypnotherapists or biofeedback practitioners about their experience in treating eating disorders. And again, tell your doctor and other therapists about the care you get. Nutrition and Diet's Role in Bulimia Treatment.

How often do you eat bulimia?

Symptoms. In bulimia, eating binges may occur as often as several times a day for many months. People with bulimia often eat large amounts of high-calorie foods, usually in secret. People can feel a lack of control over their eating during these episodes.

Why do women have bulimia?

The disorder is most common in adolescent girls and young women. The affected person is usually aware that her eating pattern is abnormal and may feel fear or guilt with the binge-purge episodes. The exact cause of bulimia is unknown.

Can bulimia cause overweight?

People with bulimia are often at a normal weight, but they may see themselves as being overweight. Because the person's weight is often normal, other people may not notice this eating disorder. Symptoms that other people can see include: Compulsive exercise.

Diagnosis

Treatment

  • When you have bulimia, you may need several types of treatment, although combining psychotherapy with antidepressants may be the most effective for overcoming the disorder. Treatment generally involves a team approach that includes you, your family, your primary care provider, a mental health professional and a dietitian experienced in treating eat...
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Clinical Trials

  • Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
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Lifestyle and Home Remedies

  • In addition to professional treatment, follow these self-care tips: 1. Stick to your treatment plan.Don't skip therapy sessions and try not to stray from meal plans, even if they make you uncomfortable. 2. Learn about bulimia.Education about your condition can empower you and motivate you to stick to your treatment plan. 3. Get the right nutrition.If you aren't eating well or y…
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Alternative Medicine

  • Dietary supplements and herbal products designed to suppress the appetite or aid in weight loss may be abused by people with eating disorders. Weight-loss supplements or herbs can have serious side effects and dangerously interact with other medications. Weight-loss and other dietary supplements don't need approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to go on th…
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Coping and Support

  • You may find it difficult to cope with bulimia when you're hit with mixed messages by the media, culture, coaches, family, and maybe your own friends or peers. So how do you cope with a disease that can be deadly when you're also getting messages that being thin is a sign of success? 1. Remind yourself what a healthy weight is for your body. 2. Resist the urge to diet or skip meals, …
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Preparing For Your Appointment

  • Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your health care team. Ask a family member or friend to go with you, if possible, to help you remember key points and give a fuller picture of the situation.
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