Topiramate Curbs Binge Eating, Obesity

The epilepsy drug topiramate may provide long-term benefits for people with binge-eating disorder and obesity, as suggested by results of a small study from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The study included 61 subjects randomly selected to receive topiramate or placebo; 44 patients received topiramate, and results were available for 43 of these patients, who reached an ending dosage of 250 mg/d. All 43 patients experienced a significant decline in the number of weekly binge-eating episodes, and they experienced a significant weight loss as well. Based on these results, the study team concluded that further studies of topiramate for the long-term treatment of binge-eating disorder are needed.

Ms. Farley is a freelance medical writer based in Wakefield, RI.