Most bulimics treated today are put through a regimen of antidepressants and therapy. But Cheryl says Zofran helped her when years of therapy and the antidepressant Prozac did not. While she admits it was an uphill battle, she and Dr. Faris have convinced her health insurer to pay for her treatment. A day of hospitalization can be 20 to 40 times as expensive as daily use of Zofran. Bulimia is characterized by repeated episodes of binge eating followed by purging, either by self-induced vomiting or the taking of laxatives or diuretics, according to the Merck Manual .
Bulimics also diet and exercise excessively to counteract the effects of bingeing.
The amount of food eaten in a binge can be quite large. A person must binge at least twice a week to be diagnosed as having bulimia, but the individual may overdo it more often. Self-induced vomiting can erode tooth enamel, enlarge the salivary glands, inflame the esophagus and lower the potassium levels in the blood, causing abnormal heart rhythms. Psychotherapy and antidepressants are the current treatment for bulimia. Most people who have bulimia are women who are concerned about their body image and weight.