http://globalnews.ca/news/1806453/fda-approves-an-adhd-drug-as-the-treatment-for-binge-eating-disorder/

       I literally jumped for joy when reading this article today! The FDA has approved Vyvanse, a drug typically used to treat ADHD for those that have compulsive overeating or binge eating disorder. Vyvanse is a central nervous system stimulant that affects appetite, but can be highly addictive.
      Now I have a personal connection with this story, which has made me very excited. First off, eating issues and mental health issues go hand in hand, and technically eating issues are mental health issues. I strongly believe that those with attention problems and/or anxiety tend to overeat and placate their emotional issues with food. I also believe that ADHD is a REAL condition, and while cognitive behavioural therapy and self care is beneficial, that medication can be helpful. To be on a medication that slows down the mental news feed can reduce anxiety and "relax" a person while curbing the appetite. I was prescribed Ritalin in university while seeing a psychiatrist that specialized in eating disorders and struggling with bingeing, and took it when needed to get me through my classes. I was amazed at the effect it had on my eating. Now I never stopped eating all together or lost a dramatic amount of weight. I made sure I ate, even if I wasn't hungry and did my best to take care of my body. I was a huge study binger, as I felt the urge to do more than one thing at once. I remember buying huge bags of jelly beans or jujubes to get me through exam periods, so that I could eat and read. It felt miraculous to be able to focus and feel free of the compulsive urge to eat. I was so depressed and so out of it, it was a miracle if \I made it from one place to the next without picking up a snack. Eating calmed my nerves. At this point I'm sure I was addicted to the sugar, fat, and other garbage that I was putting in to my body.
       Being on medication allowed me to refocus and feel like I was in control of my life. It gave me enough footing to make big changes and allow my gut, which was destroyed in the bingeing process, to heal with the help of probiotics. I also used a lot of CBT, regular exercise, a high fiber diet, and eating in moderation to help me to deal with the urge to binge. Sometimes I fail, but I now have the confidence that I can get back on the wagon after a slip. I have medication around for when I need it, but as I age I don't like the "high and sleepy" feeling that they give me. I get knocked out and kind of stoned off a small dose, and don't have my usual perkiness. I don't think that medication is the answer, but it can be a small piece of the puzzle.
       Of course, saying this, these medications have high abuse potential. We all know that people are looking for the magic bullet, the quick fix. I can see this having some serious issues in US with people looking for scripts and the popularity of the drug may cause an increase of theft and crime to get it on the black market. This is where I believe we need to educate the medical profession on how to spot patients that really need these meds and ensure they are receiving psychiatric care. Much easier said than done though.
     I am hopeful because I have dreamt that some of my clients who struggle with binge eating and its consequences can benefit from these medications as I have. While I may be criticized for taking the "easy way" let me tell you, it has been anything but easy, but I| am very happy to be in the place I am now. It is a journey, and it's continually getting better.