It is possible to overcome bulimia with bulimia treatment. Bulimia is an eating disorder that is comprised of binge eating followed by purging such as self induced vomiting, use of laxatives, excessive exercise or diuretics. Bulimia is a psychological disorder so as with anorexia you need to treat the persons mind as well as body. Bulimia can be very similar to a drug addiction as it is an obsession.
There are many complications involved with bulimia and it can have some long-term effects if left untreated. Much of the complications are due to the frequent purging as self induced vomiting can cause your salivary glands to swell, tooth enamel to erode, and you can get more cavities. This is all due to the exposure to gastric acid that occurs with vomiting. The esophagus and colon can also be damaged and those that have bulimia tend to developed ulcers, strictures of the esophagus and ruptures.
Bulimia treatment can be achieved using a physician and psychiatrist. There are several antidepressant medications that have proven to be useful when treating bulimia. Prozac has been affective, as have Buspar, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants. These drugs can stop individuals from vomiting, though the best medication is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, as this does not have many side effects.
The bulimia may be so severe that hospitalization is needed. Depending on the severity of the bulimia treatment can be achieved using weekly counseling or outpatient programs. The main goal of the treatment is to address the psychological and physical needs of the patients so that they can achieve normal eating patterns.
There may be many issues that can affect a persons eating and self-perception, family dynamics and control issues can all cause an individual to binge and then purge. An individual suffering from bulimia will also include behavior management and nutritional education.
