Baclofen for binge eating: an open-label trial

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Baclofen is a GABA-B agonist with potential applications in substance use disorders.
• Preclinical studies indicate baclofen reduces binge-like eating in rodents.
• This suggests a possible therapeutic role for baclofen in eating disorders characterized by binge eating.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of baclofen in reducing binge eating episodes.
• To assess baclofen's effectiveness in patients diagnosed with binge eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa (BN).

Main Methods:

• An open-label trial involving seven women diagnosed with BED (n=4) or BN (n=3).
• Participants received baclofen at a dosage of 60 mg/day for a duration of 10 weeks.
• The study monitored the frequency of binge eating episodes throughout the trial.

Main Results:

• Six of seven participants completed the 10-week trial.
• Five participants (71%) experienced a ≥50% reduction in binge eating frequency.
• Three participants (43%) achieved complete abstinence from binge eating by the study's end.
• Baclofen was generally well-tolerated, with four participants opting to continue treatment post-trial.

Conclusions:

• Baclofen demonstrated a significant association with decreased binge eating frequency in patients with BED and BN.
• The findings suggest baclofen may be a viable treatment option for individuals suffering from binge eating disorders.
• Further research with larger sample sizes and control groups is warranted to confirm these preliminary results.