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Medications are most commonly prescribed to people with eating disorders to assist with co-morbid disorders such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Medication for the treatment of eating disorders can be prescribed and monitored by a psychiatrist or a general practitioner. Medication should not be used as the sole treatment of an eating disorder; however it may assist when administered in conjunction with appropriate psychotherapeutic treatments.
Eating disorders can lead to abnormalities in serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of happiness and well being. Antidepressant medication seeks to improve serotonergic neurotransmission. This medication has been found to be effective in the treatment of people with Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder.
Antipsychotic medication has proven to alleviate agitation, rumination, and delusional thinking. This medication may assist in the treatment of people with Anorexia Nervosa.