How to Use Remeron to Treat Bulimia

Remeron, the only tricyclic antidepressant approved by the FDA, is sometimes used to treat bulimia nervosa, an eating disorder marked by food binging and subsequent purging (through vomiting, laxatives or even excessive exercise). Remeron, also known as mirtazapine, is used to treat bulimia only after SSRI antidepressants such as Prozac are ineffective.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Remeron
• Mental health care professional, such as a psychiatrist

Use Remeron to Treat Bulimia

1. Ask your mental health care professional about using Remeron to treat your bulimia. After a thorough physical examination to rule out the possibility of internal organ damage, Remeron may be prescribed alone or in combination with other types of antidepressants, such as Prozac, that have been proven to be very effective in treating eating disorders.
2. Be aware of the side effects that may be produced when you use Remeron to treat bulimia. The most noteworthy side effect is weight gain and an increased appetite, which may or may not complicate the bulimia depending upon peripheral treatment. Other side effects include jaundice, hallucinations, dizziness, drowsiness and recurring nightmares that may be a function of the increased food consumption, especially late at night.
3. Use talking therapies such as psychotherapy and cognitive behavior therapy to complement your use of Remeron to treat bulimia. Cognitive behavior therapy is considered, along with Prozac, to be a front-line treatment option for bulimia nervosa since it uses behavior modification to isolate the feelings and emotions that cause bulimia from the actual eating and purging behaviors.
4. Get plenty of exercise while using Remeron to treat bulimia in order to raise serotonin levels in the brain, which in turn will reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. By exercising at least an hour every other day, you will also be able to counteract the weight gain that Remeron can cause.
5. Consult with your health care professional before you adjust or discontinue your dosage levels of Remeron. Withdrawal symptoms such as jaundice, rashes, allergic reactions and infections can occur if the doses are not slowly reduced over a period of at least 1 to 2 weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Remeron is often prescribed because it is relatively safe from accidental overdoses. It can also be used with other types of antidepressants, such as Effexor, because it does not affect serotonin levels.
• Remeron can produce unpleasant side effects if taken with alcohol, such as frequent and possible painful urination.