Metformin abuse: A novel and dangerous purging behavior in anorexia nervosa

Objective To report a case of severe multisystem illness, near death and permanent kidney failure in a woman with a history of anorexia nervosa‐binge purge type due to abuse of prescription metformin, an approved oral diabetes medication obtained surreptitiously via the internet. Method Psychiatric...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The International journal of eating disorders 2019-03, Vol.52 (3), p.319-321
Main Authors: Geer, Bashir, Gibson, Dennis, Grayeb, Daniela, Benabe, Jodie, Victory, Shelby, Mehler, Shoshanah, Mehler, Philip
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anorexia
anorexia nervosa
Antidiabetics
Eating disorders
internet
kidney failure
lactic acidosis
metformin
prescription medications
purging
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objective To report a case of severe multisystem illness, near death and permanent kidney failure in a woman with a history of anorexia nervosa‐binge purge type due to abuse of prescription metformin, an approved oral diabetes medication obtained surreptitiously via the internet. Method Psychiatric and medical records were reviewed from the medical care of this patient. A literature search was also performed on prescription medication abuse as a mode of purging. Discussion Metformin abuse in a patient with an eating disorder as a purging behavior is a rarely reported, albeit very dangerous entity. Clinicians treating eating disorders should increasingly be aware of the potential abuse of prescription medications, unapproved for weight loss but which have weight loss, as a reported side effect. This is particularly important as the ability to obtain prescription medications via the internet, without a prescription, becomes more ubiquitous.
ISSN:0276-3478
1098-108X
DOI:10.1002/eat.23010