Pharmacological Treatment of Binge Eating Disorder and Frequent Comorbid Diseases

TY - JOUR

T1 - Pharmacological Treatment of Binge Eating Disorder and Frequent Comorbid Diseases

AU - Himmerich, Hubertus

AU - Bentley, Jessica

AU - McElroy, Susan L

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.

PY - 2024/9

Y1 - 2024/9

N2 - Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common specific eating disorder (ED). It is frequently associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, bipolar disorder (BD), anxiety disorders, alcohol and nicotine use disorder, and obesity. The aim of this narrative review was to summarize the evidence for the pharmacological treatment of BED and its comorbid disorders. We recommend the ADHD medication lisdexamfetamine (LDX) and the antiepileptic and antimigraine drug topiramate for the pharmacological treatment of BED. However, only LDX is approved for the treatment of BED in some countries. Medications to treat diseases frequently comorbid with BED include atomoxetine and LDX for ADHD; citalopram, fluoxetine, sertraline, duloxetine, and venlafaxine for anxiety disorders and depression; aripiprazole for manic episodes of BD; lamotrigine, lirasidone and lumateperone for depressive episodes of BD; naltrexone for alcohol use disorder; bupropion for nicotine use disorder; and liraglutide, semaglutide, and the combination of bupropion and naltrexone for obesity. As obesity is a frequent health consequence of BED, weight gain-inducing medications, such as the atypical antipsychotics olanzapine or clozapine, the novel antidepressant mirtazapine and tricyclic antidepressants, and the mood stabilizer valproate should be avoided where possible. It is currently unclear whether the novel and promising glucagon, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like tirzepatide and retatrutide help with BED and its comorbidities. However, these compounds have been reported to reduce binge eating in individuals with obesity or overweight.

AB - Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common specific eating disorder (ED). It is frequently associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, bipolar disorder (BD), anxiety disorders, alcohol and nicotine use disorder, and obesity. The aim of this narrative review was to summarize the evidence for the pharmacological treatment of BED and its comorbid disorders. We recommend the ADHD medication lisdexamfetamine (LDX) and the antiepileptic and antimigraine drug topiramate for the pharmacological treatment of BED. However, only LDX is approved for the treatment of BED in some countries. Medications to treat diseases frequently comorbid with BED include atomoxetine and LDX for ADHD; citalopram, fluoxetine, sertraline, duloxetine, and venlafaxine for anxiety disorders and depression; aripiprazole for manic episodes of BD; lamotrigine, lirasidone and lumateperone for depressive episodes of BD; naltrexone for alcohol use disorder; bupropion for nicotine use disorder; and liraglutide, semaglutide, and the combination of bupropion and naltrexone for obesity. As obesity is a frequent health consequence of BED, weight gain-inducing medications, such as the atypical antipsychotics olanzapine or clozapine, the novel antidepressant mirtazapine and tricyclic antidepressants, and the mood stabilizer valproate should be avoided where possible. It is currently unclear whether the novel and promising glucagon, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like tirzepatide and retatrutide help with BED and its comorbidities. However, these compounds have been reported to reduce binge eating in individuals with obesity or overweight.

KW - Humans

KW - Binge-Eating Disorder/drug therapy

KW - Comorbidity

KW - Obesity/drug therapy

KW - Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/drug therapy

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85200318060

U2 - 10.1007/s40263-024-01111-1

DO - 10.1007/s40263-024-01111-1

M3 - Review article

C2 - 39096466

SN - 1172-7047

VL - 38

SP - 697

EP - 718

JO - CNS Drugs

JF - CNS Drugs

IS - 9

ER -