Antidepressants More Effective in Anorexia as Weight Increases

When the body is starved, it has a difficult time metabolizing food, and the same occurs with medications. A person with depression who is at a dangerously low weight may see little benefit from taking an antidepressant, because the body is generally not functioning well enough to make use of the drug.

But as weight increases, the body begins to respond better. Even a month or two of consistently improved eating can allow for an excellent response to a wisely-prescribed medication.

It's important to remember, though, that anorexia creates symptoms that may seem like depression when depression isn't necessarily present on its own. Many of the factors that suggest depression--poor sleep, low energy and sex drive, and of course, low appetite--are direct results of being in a state of starvation.

In any case, it's important to recognize that mood is not likely to improve unless food intake is improving as well.

• Much more on depression
• How eating disorders and personality disorders interact
• Drug therapy for binge-eating disorder