Controlled trials in patients with
bulimia nervosa have demonstrated efficacy of
antidepressant medications with serotonergic function (e.g.
fluoxetine) as well as noradrenergic function (e.g.
desipramine). Seven outpatients with
bulimia nervosa according to DSM-IV criteria were treated openly with 8 mg of
reboxetine, a selective
noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (NRI) over a 12-week period. The patients were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM, Clinical Global Impression, 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating scale (HAM-D),
Eating Disorder Inventory,
Eating Disorders Questionnaire, daily self-ratings of eating behaviour, and the UKU side-effect rating scale. Three patients dropped out prematurely, one after 6 weeks and two after 4 weeks of
reboxetine treatment. The reasons for premature attrition were rapid remission in one patient after 2 weeks and
constipation, which led to an increase in episodes of
laxative intake in two patients. In the total group, the monthly
binge eating frequency showed a reduction of 73% and the frequency of
vomiting episodes per month decreased by 67%. Furthermore, there was a concomitant decrease of depression ratings (HAM-D: from 12.2-6.1).
Reboxetine seems to be an option for the treatment of
bulimia nervosa.