Treatment of anorexia nervosa with antidepressants.
Nine patients with anorexia nervosa were treated with antidepressant medications from three classes: tricyclics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and triazolopyridines. A tenth patient was treated with the combination of lithium carbonate and carbamazepine. With either the initial or a subsequent medication trial, four patients had displayed significant improvement in weight and in other anorexic and bulimic symptoms. Three additional patients had a marked or moderate improvement in bulimic symptoms, one with moderate and two without any weight gain. Two other patients had moderate weight gain. Side effects were a significant problem in many of the patients. These preliminary results suggest that antidepressants may be of benefit in the treatment of some patients with anorexia nervosa.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000523:psychology; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008297:Male; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D002220:Carbamazepine; D008094:Lithium