Prozac for Bulimia

 Prozac^® (fluoxetine hydrochloride) is a prescription drug that is licensed to treat certain conditions within the brain. Although the medication is primarily used for the treatment of depression, healthcare providers may also prescribe it for bulimia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or panic disorder. When used in combination with Zyprexa^® (olanzapine), it is also approved for treating bipolar depression and treatment-resistant depression.

 

Bulimia nervosa, typically just called bulimia, is a type of eating disorder. People with bulimia eat a lot of food in a short amount of time and then purge in an attempt to not gain weight. There are many causes of bulimia, including anxiety and social pressure to be thin. There are also many health effects with bulimia, including damage to teeth and problems with infertility or pregnancy.

 

Although bulimia treatment almost always involves counseling, antidepressants are often helpful in treating bulimia. Prozac has not been studied in children or teens with bulimia and is not approved for this age group.