Response of recurrent binge eating and weight gain to topiramate in patients with binge eating disorder after bariatric surgery.

Author: Guerdjikova AI, Kotwal R, McElroy SL

Author affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA. guerdja@ucmail.uc.edu

Publication date & source: 2005.02, Obes Surg., 15(2):273-7.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of topiramate was evaluated in the treatment of recurrent binge eating and weight gain in patients with binge eating disorder (BED) and obesity who had undergone initially successful bariatric surgery. METHODS: The records of 3 consecutive patients with BED and obesity who presented to our clinic with recurrent binge eating and weight gain after undergoing initially successful bariatric surgery were reviewed. They were treated with topiramate for an average of 10 months. RESULTS: All three patients reported complete amelioration of their binge eating symptoms and displayed weight loss (31.7 kg in 17 months, 14.5 kg in 9 months, 2 kg in 4 months, respectively) in response to topiramate (mean dose 541 mg). CONCLUSION: Although anecdotal, these observations suggest that topiramate may be an effective treatment for patients with BED and obesity who experience recurrent binge eating and weight gain after initially successful bariatric surgery.