do meds really help? - Eating Disorder Recovery Message Board

Praline · 12-14-2000, 06:45 PM

I have been going to a psychologist about my bulimia for almost a year. I was making decent headway in stopping the behaviors (or at least minimizing them)but no matter how hard I try I cant' seem to control my thoughts. I always get very negative and my ed voice just won't shut up at times. So four months ago they put me on Zoloft, which is a antidepressant, (more specifically a SSRI). It doesn't seem to be doing anything for me. I'm up to 200mg/day and I never forget to take them, but I feel no different.

I was just wondering what others experience has been with antidepresants used as a tool to fight eating disorders has been? Is it just me? Or does another drug work better for people with eds, perhaps?

Please Respond,
Praline

klutzqueen · 12-17-2000, 05:18 AM

Hi there - I'll share with you what I know.
Anti-depressants work by inhibiting the re-uptake of seratonin, which is the anti-depressant chemical, right? So it hangs around in your system longer, thus making you feel happier.

Also, scientists have also recently found that in bulimics there are often low seratonin levels which lead them to binge on carbs etc (high in tryptophan, which is converted into seratonin). This means that you get a seratonin high and the behaviour is reinforced.

I think you should give the meds a little longer, and if they still aren't helping, you should go back to your doctor....s/he maybe will know of something else to help.

Good luck
Debbie

Maci · 12-21-2000, 09:55 AM

Over the years, I have been on many different antidepressants and this is what I have found. Some work great and some don't work at all. Everyone's chemistry is a little bit different and sometimes it takes a couple tries to find the right medication. I had great success with Zoloft for over a year before it stopped working. I then went to a combo of Effexor and Serzone which also worked great. Before Zoloft, I tried Paxil, Wellbutrin and Buspar with no luck at all. In my experience, all of the medications I had luck with produced positive results by the three month mark. Hope this helps.