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Can voracious appetite that comes with antidepressants be tamed?

Helix
Community Member

Hi, I have been prescribed an antidepressant medication to help me with an anxiety related sleep disorder. I started it more than a month ago and it has given me a side effect of a maddeningly voracious appetite, especially for carbohydrates and especially in the evening or night time. I have put on more than a kilo a week for six weeks after having had stable weight for years. Has anyone found something that stops or reduces your appetite when taking this medication? Is the only option to stop taking it? If I stop will the appetite even go away again? I was told I had to take it for at least six weeks to fix my sleep problem. Thanks in advance, Helix

4 Replies 4

S_A_D_
Community Member

I'm told my experience with medications is rare, so please take this with a grain of salt.

I was prescribed similar medications, and developed increased appetite. I continued taking the medication, and my appetite continued to increase. I stopped the medication, and my appetite did not decrease. I have ceased all medications for several months, and appetite continues to be voracious.

Confuzzled
Community Member

I understand that increased appetite is a side effect of some medications, so perhaps ask to try another type? There's usually a range of meds that doctors can prescribe from for specific conditions and each has side effects that affect individuals in different ways.

 

Helix
Community Member

I ended up stopping taking the medication and my voracious appetite went away immediately. Unfortunately anxiety related lack of sleep came back after a few nights which is unpleasant, but at the moment I consider that to be the lesser of two weevils because the weight gain was contributing to my anxiety.

The_Real_David_Charles
Community Member

Dear Helix,

Appetites seem to increase with most mental illness meds.  You might become a Double Helix !  Good on you for working this out early - I wasn't given this info for 2 - 3 years !   From memory the psychiatrist just assumed I know the side affect.

I'm on a well known mood stabiliser for bipolar and it's really good at making people thirsty.   So the side effect of thirstyness sometimes balances out the side effect of appetite increase. Basically try filling up with fluids.

Sometimes cutting out a food supply after 9pm, locking the fridge, and forcing a stay of eating until the breakfast, is the only way to beat it.    If you were on a psych ward the Supper would be 8:30pm and the Breakfast 7:30am.   Everything is locked - you have no choice but to endure a night of stomach gripes.  But by Night 5 you're used to it or have worked out how to harbour excess food from the day to harvest at night time.

Your body's not designed for these kinds of drugs. Something's gonna give.

Adios, David.