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Department of  Psychiatry: Division of Neuroscience Research

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa is described as a disorder  in which frequent episodes of binge eating (rapid consumption of food in one  sitting) are almost always followed by purging (ridding the body of food).  Purging can involve vomiting, abusing laxatives and/or diuretics, exercising  compulsively and/or fasting. Binging and purging is often followed by  intense feelings of guilt and shame. Those suffering with bulimia may not be visibly underweight and may even be slightly overweight. As in  anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa may use self-destructive eating behaviors to deal with psychological  problems that may go much deeper than her/his obsession with food and  weight. Usually, the individual feels out of control and recognizes that the  behavior is not normal. Up to 5% of college women in the U.S. are bulimic.

Research on Zofran®

One of the studies conducted by our eating disorders research group at the  University of Minnesota has found that the drug Zofran®, which is traditionally used to combat nausea induced by chemotherapy, shows  considerable promise in the treatment of bulimia nervosa.  Patients involved in this study had to be diagnosed as suffering from  sever bulimia. This meant patients had binge/vomit episodes greater then  seven times per week with some patients having episodes up to 25 times per  week.  Most patients had exhibited the behaviors for more than 5 years and had a feeling of loss of  control over the symptoms.  

In  the study 26 women with bulimia nervosa were randomly placed in one of two  groups, no drug (placebo) or drug (Zofran®).  After an initial baseline and placebo week, patients in the no drug group received a placebo pill while patients in the drug group received  Zofran®.  Throughout the  subsequent four weeks, the number of binge/vomit episodes was measured in  both groups.  At the end of the  study we found that the number of binge/vomit episodes dropped significantly  in the group being treated with Zofran® when compared to the placebo group. 

Since the end of the study period there have been several  patients that haven’t binged/vomited for up to seven years, while others  have cut the number from as many as seven times a day down to once or twice  a day.

Press Releases

Australian Broadcast Corp.  (www.abc.net.au)
WebMd.com "Anti-Nausea Drug Helps Bulimics"