Memantine in the treatment of binge eating disorder: an open-label, prospective trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess preliminarily the efficacy of memantine in binge eating disorder.


METHODS
This was an open-label, 12-week, flexible-dose (5-20 mg/day) trial of memantine in binge eating disorder. The primary outcome was frequency of binge days. Secondary outcomes included frequency of binge episodes, body-mass index (BMI), weight, Clinical Global Impressions Severity (CGI-S), Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Longitudinal random regression analysis was performed for frequency of binge days and episodes, BMI, weight, and CGI-S; analysis of baseline to endpoint change was performed for all outcomes.


RESULTS
Sixteen individuals received memantine; 15 completed at least one postbaseline evaluation, 9 completed the study. Mean dose at endpoint was 18.3 mg/day. Memantine was associated with significant reductions in frequency of binge days and episodes, severity of illness (p < .001 for both analyses), disinhibition on the TFEQ (p = .015), and disability on the SDS (p < .05 for three subscales). There was no significant change in BMI, weight, MADRS, HAM-A, and TFEQ cognitive restraint and hunger.


CONCLUSIONS
In this open-label trial, memantine was well tolerated and effective in reducing binge eating, severity of illness, and disability, but had little effect on BMI and weight.
Brennan
Brian P
BP
Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA. bbrennan@partners.org
Roberts
Jacqueline L
JL
Fogarty
Kate V
KV
Reynolds
Karina A
KA
Jonas
Jeffrey M
JM
Hudson
James I
JI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D015259:Dopamine Agents; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D008559:Memantine