A Rutgers Health-led study highlights mixed results for lisdexamfetamine as a treatment for binge eating disorder, shedding light on the need for more targeted medications.
Researchers led by Rutgers Health unveiled a study that reveals mixed outcomes for patients using lisdexamfetamine, marketed as Vyvanse, a commonly prescribed stimulant for binge eating disorder (BED).
“Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States, yet there is no drug specifically developed for the condition that affects people of all racial and ethnic groups,” lead author Abanoub Armanious, a master of science student at Rutgers School of Public Health, said in a news release.
Originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of ADHD, lisdexamfetamine later received approval for moderate to severe BED in adult patients due to its effectiveness in reducing the frequency of binge eating episodes.
“[I]ts ability to also reduce the frequency of binge eating episodes led to its approval for binge eating disorder,” added senior author Morgan James, an assistant professor of psychiatry and member of the Rutgers Addiction Research Center at the Brain Health Institute.
The study, published in the journal Psychiatry Research Communications, digs into patients’ subjective experiences with lisdexamfetamine. Although many reported a decrease in binge episodes and better appetite control, others encountered significant side effects and inconsistent efficacy.
BED is characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food, often quickly and to the point of discomfort, accompanied by a sense of loss of control. This disorder is frequently associated with depression, anxiety and obesity-related health issues like Type 2 diabetes.
Although clinical trials have proven lisdexamfetamine’s effectiveness in reducing binge episodes for some, patient-centered qualitative data had been scarce until now.
“The repositioning of this drug from an ADHD medication to a treatment for binge eating disorder highlights a critical gap in the treatment landscape. as no drug has been specifically developed and FDA-approved for binge eating disorder, despite the disorder’s widespread prevalence both in the U.S. and globally,” Armanious added.
For this study, the researchers conducted a thematic analysis of 111 anonymous reviews from self-identified BED patients on Drugs.com. They analyzed the relationship between patients’ subjective experiences with lisdexamfetamine and their ratings of the drug’s efficacy.
“Our findings revealed that higher perceived efficacy was associated with improved focus and fewer side effects, while lower ratings were linked to concerns about diminishing therapeutic effects, insomnia and afternoon energy loss,” added Armanious.
Key challenges identified with lisdexamfetamine include:
- Many patients face the highest risk of binge eating at night, but the drug’s effects generally diminish by evening, leaving them vulnerable.
- The “crash” from the medication often results in fatigue, irritability or mental fog.
- Some patients attempted to adjust dosage timings, which frequently led to insomnia and other sleep issues.
Armanious pointed out that these findings highlight the critical need for a better understanding of lisdexamfetamine’s effects and the importance of developing new medications with fewer side effects. The James Laboratory continues to work towards improved treatment options for BED.
The study emphasizes the necessity for a more nuanced approach to treating BED, as the search for targeted and specifically developed medications continues.