Sodium oxybate in the treatment of binge eating disorder: an open-label, prospective study

Abstract

Objective: To assess preliminarily the effectiveness of sodium oxybate in binge eating disorder.

Method: This was an open-label, prospective, 16-week, flexible dose study of sodium oxybate in binge eating disorder. The primary outcome was binge eating episode frequency.

Results: Twelve individuals received sodium oxybate, 10 completed at least one postbaseline evaluation, and five completed the study. Mean dose at endpoint was 7.1 (2.0) g/day. Sodium oxybate was associated with significant reductions in frequency of binge days and binge episodes, as well as measures of clinical severity, eating pathology, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, food cravings, body mass index, and body weight. Nine participants had remission of binge eating and five lost ≥5% of their baseline weight; all five of the latter participants had remission of binge eating.

Discussion: In this open-label trial, sodium oxybate was effective in binge eating disorder, but associated with high a discontinuation rate.