TY - JOUR
T1 - Pharmacological treatment of eating disorders, comorbid mental health problems, malnutrition and physical health consequences
AU - Himmerich, Hubertus
AU - Kan, Carol
AU - Au, Katie
AU - Treasure, Janet
N1 - Funding Information:
Janet Treasure and Hubertus Himmerich receive salary support from the NIHR Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and KCL. The views expressed are those of the authors and not those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Inc.
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/1
Y1 - 2021/1
N2 - The pharmacological treatment of patients with an eating disorder (ED) often includes medications to treat their ED, comorbid mental health problems, malnutrition and the physical health problems resulting from it. The currently approved pharmacological treatment options for EDs are limited to fluoxetine for bulimia nervosa (BN) and – in some countries – lisdexamfetamine for binge eating disorder (BED). Thus, there are no approved pharmacological options for anorexia nervosa (AN), even though study results for olanzapine and dronabinol are promising. Topiramate might be an additional future option for the treatment of BN and BED. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), mirtazapine and bupropion could be considered for the treatment of comorbid unipolar depression. However, AN and BN are contraindications for bupropion. For ED patients with a manic episode, we recommend olanzapine in AN and risperidone in BN and BED; whereas for bipolar depression, olanzapine (plus fluoxetine) seems appropriate in AN and lamotrigine in BN and BED. Acute anxiety or suicidality may warrant benzodiazepine treatment with lorazepam. Proton-pump inhibitors, gastroprokinetic drugs, laxatives and hormones can alleviate certain physical health problems caused by EDs. Therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacogenomic testing, a more restrictive use of “pro re nata” (PRN) medication, an interdisciplinary treatment approach, shared decision making (SDM) and the formulation of common treatment goals by the patients, their family or carers and clinicians could improve treatment success and safety. Novel genetic, immunological, microbiome and brain imaging research as well as new pharmacological developments like the use of psychedelics, stimulants, novel monoaminergic drugs, hormone analogues and drugs which enhance the effects of psychotherapy may extend our therapeutic options in the near future.
AB - The pharmacological treatment of patients with an eating disorder (ED) often includes medications to treat their ED, comorbid mental health problems, malnutrition and the physical health problems resulting from it. The currently approved pharmacological treatment options for EDs are limited to fluoxetine for bulimia nervosa (BN) and – in some countries – lisdexamfetamine for binge eating disorder (BED). Thus, there are no approved pharmacological options for anorexia nervosa (AN), even though study results for olanzapine and dronabinol are promising. Topiramate might be an additional future option for the treatment of BN and BED. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), mirtazapine and bupropion could be considered for the treatment of comorbid unipolar depression. However, AN and BN are contraindications for bupropion. For ED patients with a manic episode, we recommend olanzapine in AN and risperidone in BN and BED; whereas for bipolar depression, olanzapine (plus fluoxetine) seems appropriate in AN and lamotrigine in BN and BED. Acute anxiety or suicidality may warrant benzodiazepine treatment with lorazepam. Proton-pump inhibitors, gastroprokinetic drugs, laxatives and hormones can alleviate certain physical health problems caused by EDs. Therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacogenomic testing, a more restrictive use of “pro re nata” (PRN) medication, an interdisciplinary treatment approach, shared decision making (SDM) and the formulation of common treatment goals by the patients, their family or carers and clinicians could improve treatment success and safety. Novel genetic, immunological, microbiome and brain imaging research as well as new pharmacological developments like the use of psychedelics, stimulants, novel monoaminergic drugs, hormone analogues and drugs which enhance the effects of psychotherapy may extend our therapeutic options in the near future.
KW - Anorexia nervosa
KW - Antidepressants
KW - Anxiety
KW - Benzodiazepines
KW - Binge eating disorder
KW - Bipolar disorder
KW - Bulimia nervosa
KW - Depression
KW - Electrolytes vitamins
KW - Fluoxetine
KW - Gastroprokinetic drugs
KW - insulin, and paracetamol
KW - Laxatives
KW - Lisdexamfetamine
KW - Obesity
KW - Osteoporosis
KW - Promethazine
KW - proton-pump inhibitors
KW - Reflux
KW - Sleep problems
KW - suicidality
KW - Zopiclone
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85090067769&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107667
DO - 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107667
M3 - Review article
C2 - 32858054
AN - SCOPUS:85090067769
SN - 0163-7258
VL - 217
JO - Pharmacology and Therapeutics
JF - Pharmacology and Therapeutics
M1 - 107667
ER -
