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Pharmacology of Binge Eating Disorder
Contributor: Leigh Bell, BA, writer for Eating Disorder Hope
Following years of research showing people with binge eating disorder respond positively to medication, the Federal Drug Administration approved – to the celebration of some and the ire of others – marketing an amphetamine as the first and only prescription drug for binge eating disorder (BED).
Types of Medication
Vyvanse was approved to treat BED by the Federal Drug Administration earlier this year. Until then, two types of drugs were mostly prescribed but not marketed for the eating disorder: topiramate, an anti-seizure medication; and antidepressants, or selective serotonin repute inhibitors (SSRIs).
Research shows medication helped people with BED abstain from bingeing in the short term substantially better than placebo. No longterm studies exist. These medications reduced the number of binges, but none significantly reduced weight except the anti-seizure drug topiramate. Yet, this drug has strong side effects, like dizziness and kidney stones, making it difficult for people to maintain.
Downside of Medications
Then along came Vyvanse to mixed reactions. The drug is a version of dextroamphetamine, a central nervous stimulant historically prescribed for narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Vyvanse, made by the drug company Shire, was first FDA-approved to treat ADHD in individuals age 6 years or older.
The FDA approval of Vyvanse ruffled many feathers for a few different reasons. First the drug is a schedule-II amphetamine that some say is highly addictive and has been associated with a high risk for heart attack and stroke. Experts expressed fear the approval of Vyvanse for BED will increase substance dependence and/or abuse.
Other beefs with Vyvanse involves how it’s marketed. Following approval to market Vyvanse, its manufacturer, Shire, launched a widespread national campaign to advertise the drug and raise awareness of BED. The company hired Monica Seles, who interviewed with myriad publications of her plight with BED.
Some said the “company is going too far to market a drug, a type of amphetamine, that is classified by the federal government as having a high potential for abuse,” according to a New York Times article. Shire was raising awareness of BED only to improve sales of their drug, critics said.
Over Prescribing
However, prescription drugs for attention deficit and related to Vyvanse, like Adderall and Ritalin, are “supplying frequent, and not just casual, misusers,” according to a comprehensive study on America’s amphetamine epidemic.
“When a drug is treated not only as a legal medicine but as a virtually harmless one, it is difficult to make a convincing case that the same drug is terribly harmful if used nonmedically,” the study continued.
However, Vyvanse did show significant success in prevention of binge eating. Researchers tracked 260 people with moderate to severe BED for 14 weeks. Of the group that received the higher doses of Vyvanse, almost 50% were binge-free for a month, compared to only 20% of those who received the placebo.
Binge eating is by far the most common eating disorder, occurring in 1 in 35 adults, or about 3% — almost twice the combined rate for anorexia and bulimia. BED is characterized by recurrent, persistent episodes of binge eating – consuming unusually large amounts of food beyond fullness – without compensatory behaviors, like purging.
There is no generic version of Vyvanse available, and the average cash price for a 30-day supply of the medication is between $216-245, according to GoodRX.com. Some insurance policies to cover Vyvanse, and its website (http://www.vyvansepro.com) allows consumers to research coverage based on their individual policies. We researched a private insurance policy in the state of Texas, and coverage was available with a copay of $10-45.
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
What are your thoughts on treating Binge Eating Disorder with medication? Were meds used during your treatment for Binge Eating Disorder?
About the Author:
Leigh Bell holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in Creative Writing and French from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She is a published author, journalist with 15 years of experience, and a recipient of the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism. Leigh is recovered from a near-fatal, decade-long battle with anorexia and the mother of three young, rambunctious children.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer a discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals. We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on September 21, 2015. Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
