How to Use Phenytoin to Treat Bulimia
Phenytoin, which is an antiepileptic drug used to reduce seizures, has been occasionally prescribed for the treatment of bulimia, an eating disorder in which the patient binges and purges food. Phenytoin was originally used to treat bulimia back in the 1970s based upon the theory that eating binges were actually a type of seizure. While phenytoin has yet to be proven as a consistently effective treatment for bulimia, it may be tried when other types of medication, such as are ineffective.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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Use Phenytoin to Treat Bulimia
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Ask your mental health care professional about using phenytoin to treat bulimia. While this anti-seizure medication is rarely used to treat eating disorders, it may reduce some of the symptoms of anxiety and depression that may accompany bulimia. It may also be prescribed in cases where more commonly used antidepressants such as Prozac have not worked.
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Refrain from driving or operating heavy machinery while taking phenytoin to treat bulimia. Phenytoin can act as a sedative and can make you appear intoxicated. Other side effects include rashes, allergic reactions and even paradoxical seizures as part of an adverse reaction to the medication.
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Avoid using phenytoin to treat bulimia over long periods of time. Phenytoin can be stored in the brain for many years and possibly cause atrophy of the cerebellum. While phenytoin is generally considered to be one of the safest prescription drugs ever marketed, it may be wise to use it intermittently.
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Use phenytoin to treat bulimia with a combination of talk therapies such as behavioral therapy or psychotherapy. While a drug such as phenytoin can help to reduce the undesirable symptoms of an eating disorder such as bulimia nervosa, it will not uncover the thoughts and emotions that cause these behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapy, which separates the symptoms of bulimia from its causes through rational thought, is a front-line treatment for bulimia.
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Enlist the help of a nutritional counselor or dietitian trained in treating eating disorders such as bulimia. Educating yourself about proper eating habits and how they relate to self-esteem issues may provide an effective counterpoint to prescription drug medication.
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Tips & Warnings
Phenytoin, more commonly known by its brand name Dilantin, can be used to treat epilepsy, depression, anxiety and mood stabilization. Efforts were made in the 1960s to push Dilantin as a treatment for many other medical conditions, which was documented in the book "A Remarkable Medicine Has Been Overlooked" by Jack Dreyfus.
