Marked symptom reduction in two women with bulimia nervosa treated with the testosterone receptor antagonist flutamide

Previous reports indicate that elevated serum levels of androgens in women may contribute to the development of bulimia nervosa and other conditions characterized by impaired impulse control and/or depressed mood. This report describes the effect of treatment with the testosterone antagonist flutamide (250-500 mg daily) in two women with severe bulimia. Both subjects reported a marked improvement with respect to bulimic behaviour within a week after initiation of flutamide treatment; when the drug was withdrawn, both patients relapsed. It is concluded that further investigations of the possible efficacy of androgen antagonism in eating disorders are warranted.