How to Use Fluoxetine to Treat Bulimia

Fluoxetine, better known as Prozac, has been proven to be unusually effective in treating sufferers of bulimia, an eating disorder marked by binging and purging patterns. Fluoxetine belongs to the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) family of antidepressants and is one of the most widely prescribed medications in the world. By consulting with a health care professional, you can determine whether or not to use fluoxetine to treat your bulimia.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Health care professional, such as a psychiatrist
• Fluoxetine

Use Fluoxetine to Treat Bulimia

1. Schedule a consultation with a health care professional in order to determine if fluoxetine is right for you. A diagnosis of bulimia nervosa is usually comprised of both a psychological evaluation and a physical examination to find out if there is any damage to internal organs. Fluoxetine will only be prescribed after a thorough assessment of your physical and emotional state has been completed.
2. Learn more about the potential side effects of fluoxetine before using it to treat bulimia. These side effects include headache, fever, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, insomnia, heartburn and seizures. Side effects such as diarrhea may also complicate the dehydration that is often caused by bulimia, so care must be taken to drink plenty of fluids while taking fluoxetine.
3. Combine your use of fluoxetine with some sort of behavioral therapy or psychotherapy for the best results in treating your bulimia. Using antidepressants to treat a psychological disorder such as bulimia only serves to cover up the symptoms. Only through various talking therapies can the root causes of the self-destructive behaviors be addressed and eliminated.
4. Exercise regularly when you take fluoxetine to treat bulimia. Many exercises such as yoga, tai chi, stretching exercises, walking and deep breathing exercises also help to raise serotonin levels in the brain the same way fluoxetine does. In addition, exposure to sunlight also increases serotonin levels, so exercise outdoors if possible.
5. Avoid reducing or stopping your prescribed daily dosage of fluoxetine without the strict supervision of your doctor. Withdrawal symptoms, including confusion, nausea, headaches and depression, may occur if the drug is not slowly reduced over a period of 1 to 2 weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Many insurance companies will not pay for prescription medications for the treatment of bulimia unless Prozac has been tried first, due to its high success rates.
• Fluoxetine can cause sexual dysfunction such as erectile dysfunction, an inability to reach orgasm and a marked decrease in sex drive. Consider the effect fluoxetine might have on your interpersonal relationships before taking it.