The role of pharmacotherapy in anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
The purpose of this article is to review the basic pharmacology and the role of drugs that are used to treat anorexia nervosa and bulimia. The pharmacological treatment of eating disorders is based upon theoretical principles. The theoretical models include: (a) an illness secondary to other psychiatric disorders, (b) a disorder in the hypothalamic control of food intake, (c) a disorder of hypothalamic endocrine regulation, (d) a syndrome secondary to depressive illness, and (e) a disorder in the hypothalamic regulation of food intake. Theoretical models a, b, and c govern the choice of drug therapy for anorexia nervosa, and models d and e govern the choice of drug therapy for bulimia. Drugs used to treat anorexia nervosa and bulimia include tricyclic antidepressants and lithium carbonate. Chlorpromazine, metoclopramide, cyproheptadine, and clomiphene citrate have also been prescribed for the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are commonly prescribed to treat bulimia. Fenfluramine has the potential to be of therapeutic value in patients with bulimia. Although drug therapy plays a limited role in the treatment of eating disorders, drugs are commonly prescribed. Therefore, the nutritionist should be familiar with the basic pharmacology and the side effects related to drug therapy.
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D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002032:Bulimia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003376:Counseling; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D002996:Clomiphene; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D005277:Fenfluramine; D008694:Methamphetamine; D008094:Lithium