What is Binge Eating Disorder diagnostic criteria?
Recurring episodes of binge eating (at least once a week over 3 months.)
Time limited (approximately 2 hours or less) period of eating significantly more food than most people would consider normal.
Sense of loss of control of eating.
What is the difference between BED and bulimia?
Patients with BED don’t purge or exercise excessively to prevent weight gain.
Patients with BED aren’t “inappropriately” concerned with body image or body shape.
What Can You Do About a Binge Eating Disorder?
A medication called VYVANSE (lisdexamfetamine) was FDA approved for binge eating disorder (BED) in January 2015.
Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is a central nervous system stimulant. It affects chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control.
Studies focused on adults with moderate to severe BED or Binge Eating Disorder.
Doses of 50mg to 70mg daily decreased binge frequency (reduction of 3.9 bingeing days per week as compared to 2.4 bingeing days on placebo)
Results showed a large effect size.
Vyvanse did not affect depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric symptoms in this study
Most common side effects are dry mouth (36%), insomnia (20%), increased heart rate (7%), feeling jittery (6%), anxiety (5%)
Patients lost 6% of their body weight during the study
Psychotherapy is still the treatment of choice for binge eating disorder, particularly cognitive behavior therapy (CBT).
Vyvanse is a reasonable medication option and is the only FDA-approved medication for BED.
There are other medications options that are not FDA-approved, (like : antidepressants, mood stabilizers, starter, acamprosate, baclofen, other stimulant medications.)
If you are struggling with an eating disorder please do not wait. Reach out to your health provider or feel free to call our office for more information. CPCH is non-judgmental, caring, warm practice that utilizes the latest up-to-date treatments for mental health issues.
Live Mentally Healthy,
Dr. Jennie Byrne