Patients taking a commonly used stimulant for the treatment of binge eating disorder experienced mixed results, according to Rutgers Health researchers. “Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States, yet there is no drug specifically developed for the condition that affects people of all racial and ethnic groups,” said Abanoub Armanious, a master of science student at Rutgers School of Public Health and lead author of the study.
Lisdexamfetamine, marketed as Vyvanse, first received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of ADHD, “but its ability to also reduce the frequency of binge eating episodes led to its approval for binge eating disorder,” said Morgan James, assistant professor of psychiatry, member of the Rutgers Addiction Research Center at the Brain Health Institute, and senior author of the study. It is now the only approved medication for moderate to severe binge eating disorder in adult patients. To read the full story.