Fluoxetine for bulimia - any experiences?

[Username90210]

Just home from an appointment with my psychiatrist. I was diagnosed with anorexia a couple of years ago. I'm now a healthy weight (just) but binging and purging everyday (literally - the last time I ate normally for an entire day and didn't throw up at all was pre-Christmas).

The psychiatrist has suggested I try fluoxetine.

I'm a little wary - mostly because my mum was on antidepressants for years and really struggled to come off them. Different issue though, and we are not at all alike.

Does anyone have any experience with this drug? Did you find it helpful?

I was on fluoxetine for BED. It does reduce the urge to binge. I came off it because my partner said it made me into a zombie (he subsequently admitted that he was just being mean) and didn’t have any withdrawal symptoms at all.

Do you actually feel depressed? I've been on loads of different ADs over the years, including fluoxetine, for depression. I have always had a strong tendency to use compulsive eating and dieting as a coping strategy, although it has never been my primary reason for seeking help.

At no time have I thought that ADshad any direct influence on my problematic habits around food. Insofar as they have ever helped with depression, I guess that may have given me some minor support in relation to dealing with disorderly eating. But only indirectly, by mitigating the depression - and even then, not to any noticeable extent.

So I find it surprising that your doc has suggested it directly in relation to bulimia, rather than to any depression that might be co-occurring.

Also, ADs have some effects in relation to appetite which may not be helpful. Often they suppress appetite for the first couple of weeks or so but then have a mild tendency towards generating carby-cravings. Not sure how fluoxetine in particular fares in that respect.

I was prescribed Fluoxetine by my consultant psychiatrist who specialises in eating disorders as it is used for binge eating and bulimia as well as for just depression

I'm prescribed it, for bulimia.
I find it massive helps my impulsive behaviours.
It doesn't stop them completely but definitely dampens them down.

Thanks. That is interesting to learn. I can't help but feel sceptical about it though.

Well, I think a specialist ED consultant psychiatrist probably knows more about it than you 🤷‍♀️

Just jumping on to say this has really intrigued me. I’ve been bulimic for 20 years but never mentioned anything to a GP, it has never concurred to me there could be medication to help.

Good to know you didn't have any difficulty coming off it. I think that's my main concern

Yeah, I'm sure that's right. I guess that ADs work differently for different people.

Called the psychiatrist and accepted the medication, so fingers crossed it's helpful

Yes, I was concerned about coming off them after reading some horror stories online but my psychiatrist said it was unlikely and we could look a tapering off slowly with liquid doses if it proved necessary.

My psychiatrist was quite reassuring - she said I would need to try it for at least a couple of months, but if it wasn't helpful I could stop and she didn't think there'd be any issues with withdrawal. I have also heard horror stories though.

I'm just desperate to stop the horrible restrict/binge/purge cycle. I would probably try anything at this stage.

Good luck, hope it works for you x
i guess people are less likely to bother to put positive reviews about a medication online so we see mainly horror stories.