Which medications are commonly used to treat anorexia nervosa?

Which medications are commonly used to treat anorexia nervosa?

• A. Fluoxetine (SSRI) and Clomipramine (Tricyclic).
• B. Fluvoxamine and lithium.
• C. Sertraline and haloperidol.
• D. Paroxetine and valproate.

Answer: (A)

In anorexia nervosa, pharmacologic treatment is most effective when the patient has been medically stabilized and weight restoration has begun; medications then aim to support mood, reduce anxiety, and help prevent relapse. The best-supported option is fluoxetine, an SSRI, because it has the strongest evidence for reducing relapse and stabilizing eating-disorder–related anxiety and obsessive tendencies once weight is regained. Clomipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, has been used in some contexts, but its use is limited by a higher burden of side effects (anticholinergic effects, cardiovascular risks, and overall tolerability) and safety concerns, making it less preferred as a routine treatment. Given these factors, fluoxetine stands out as the commonly used medication in this scenario, with clomipramine being considered only in more limited or refractory cases.

In anorexia nervosa, pharmacologic treatment is most effective when the patient has been medically stabilized and weight restoration has begun; medications then aim to support mood, reduce anxiety, and help prevent relapse. The best-supported option is fluoxetine, an SSRI, because it has the strongest evidence for reducing relapse and stabilizing eating-disorder–related anxiety and obsessive tendencies once weight is regained.

Clomipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, has been used in some contexts, but its use is limited by a higher burden of side effects (anticholinergic effects, cardiovascular risks, and overall tolerability) and safety concerns, making it less preferred as a routine treatment. Given these factors, fluoxetine stands out as the commonly used medication in this scenario, with clomipramine being considered only in more limited or refractory cases.