Topiramate treatment in bulimia nervosa patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

• Published in: The International journal of eating disorders 2005-12, Vol.38 (4), p.295-300
• Main Authors: Nickel, C, Tritt, K, Muehlbacher, M, Gil, F.P, Mitterlehner, F.O, Kaplan, P, Lahmann, C, Leiberich, P.K, Krawczyk, J, Kettler, C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; antidepressants; Attitude to Health; binging; Biological and medical sciences; body weight; Bulimia; Bulimia - drug therapy; bulimia nervosa; Clinical outcomes; Clinical trials; Comorbidity; Double-Blind Method; Drug therapy; Eating disorders; emotions; Female; frequency of binging/purging; Fructose - analogs & derivatives; Fructose - therapeutic use; Health Behavior; health status; health-related quality of life; Humans; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Neuropharmacology; patient care; patients; Personality Assessment - statistics & numerical data; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychometrics; psychotherapy; purging (food); Quality of life; topiramate; Treatment Outcome; Weight
• ISSN: 0276-3478; 1098-108X
• DOI: 10.1002/eat.20202

Objective: The aim of the current study was to test the influence of topiramate on behavior, body weight, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in bulimic patients. Method: Thirty patients with bulimia nervosa were treated with topiramate in a 10-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive topiramate (topiramate group [TG]; n = 30) or a placebo (control group [CG]; n = 30). Primary outcome measures were changes in the frequency of binging/purging, in body weight, and on the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) scales. Results: In comparison to the CG group (according to the intent-to-treat principle), significant changes in the frequency of binging/purging (a > 50% reduction: TG, n = 11 [36.7%]; CG, n = 1 [3.3%]; p < .001), body weight (difference in weight loss between the two groups: 3.8 kg, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -5.4 to -2.1; p < .001), and SF-36 (all ps < .001) could be seen. All patients tolerated topiramate well. Conclusion: Topiramate appears to safe and effective in influencing the frequency of binging/purging, body weight, and HRQOL in bulimic patients.