Disulfiram for binge eating disorder: An open trail

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of disulfiram for treatment of binge eating disorder. Method: Two hundred and fifty milligrams per day of disulfiram was administered to 12 patients affected by binge eating disorder for 16. weeks; the number of binge eating episodes per week and the number of participants who reported side effects were evaluated. Results: Nine participants (75.0%) completed the trial, while the other 3 (25.0%) discontinued prematurely. Disulfiram significantly decreased the mean frequency of binge eating episodes per week from 7.9. ±. 1.2 to 0.9. ±. 0.6 (p<. .001). All patients (100.0%) reduced the frequency of binge eating episodes, and 7 participants (58.3%) achieved remission of binge eating. Eleven participants (91.7%) reported side effects [drowsiness (N= 9), headache (N= 7), dysgeusia (N= 3), tachycardia (N= 3), dizziness (N= 2), and nausea (N= 2)]. Discussion: While disulfiram reduced the frequency of binge eating episodes, side effects were observed in the majority of participants. Longer-term placebo-controlled studies are warranted to exclude the contribution of a placebo response from these results and to evaluate drugs with similar pharmacological activity but improved tolerability.