When used in conjunction with binge eating disorder therapy, medications can help control symptoms and support patients in working toward becoming recovered. By using this multi-faceted approach to treatment, therapists can assist their patients in overcoming the barriers to recovery from binge eating disorder. To go into the treatment process with confidence, it is important to learn about the top reasons to use binge eating disorder medication and what to expect from each option.

With the right medications, it is possible to control many of the symptoms caused by binge eating disorder. As patients take the medications each day, they may experience fewer disordered thoughts and urges to binge, allowing them to focus on working toward recovery. These medications can also help control co-occurring mental health conditions that could otherwise complicate recovery. Since co-occurring mental health problems are one of the major binge eating disorder causes, becoming and remaining recovered often hinges on adequately managing those conditions.   

Treatment professionals have many different types of binge eating disorder medications to consider for their patients. They utilize their patient's care goals, medical history, and other factors to determine the best medication to use for their needs. During this process, treatment providers will often choose one or more of the following medication types to help treat binge eating disorder.

People with binge eating disorder can take an antidepressant medication daily to help control their symptoms. These medications work by adjusting serotonin and other important chemicals in the brain to optimal levels. Through these adjustments, impulsive and obsessive thought patterns often begin to decrease. By minimizing these disordered thoughts, the urge to binge eat tends to decrease as well.

In addition to directly helping control binge eating disorder symptoms, antidepressants can help patients manage anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders. This helps patients eliminate some of the binge eating disorder causes that can complicate the process of becoming and remaining recovered.

Anti-seizure medication has shown some success in decreasing disordered thought patterns and eating behaviors in people with binge eating disorder. This medication is not the first choice, however, as it does not adjust brain chemicals nor help treat co-occurring mental health conditions.

Furthermore, anti-seizure drugs can cause potentially disruptive side effects to develop, especially after first starting the medication. For some people, they are highly effective, making them a good choice for those who do not respond favorably to the other medication options.

In recent years, medical researchers have come up with a new binge eating disorder medication that helps control obsessive behavior. This stimulant actively controls the balance of chemicals in the brain to keep impulsive thoughts and behaviors at bay. In addition to treating binge eating disorder symptoms, this medication works well for those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

New research on the horizon promises to bring even more medications to the table to treat binge eating disorder causes and symptoms. By using these medications to help their patients, eating disorder treatment centers can maximize the effectiveness of binge eating disorder therapy.

Although important, medications simply support the patient while they work on becoming recovered in binge eating disorder therapy. Patients can then use the therapy sessions to better understand the conditions affecting their health and how to overcome them. They can purposefully challenge the disordered thoughts and behaviors to eliminate them altogether, ceasing the need for symptom control through medication. They may continue taking certain medications to manage their co-occurring conditions, however.

Let it be clear; medication is not always the best choice to treat binge eating disorder or other common eating disorder. Even when it is necessary, medications should be complemented with a comprehensive continuum of care, including talk therapy, psychiatric treatment (if needed), and family counseling.  A quality eating disorder treatment facility near you can provide these options in a residential or day treatment setting in most cases.  Don’t delay – reach out for help sooner rather than later if you or a loved one needs help.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3000192/

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/binge-eating-disorder/medications-binge-eating-disorder

https://www.emedicinehealth.com/binge_eating_disorder/article_em.htm

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https://www.psycom.net/eating-disorders/binge-eating/

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/binge-eating-disorder/news/19991202/two-antidepressants-effective-for-binge-eating-disorder#1