SSRI Medication

[16sundayz]

On Tuesday my doctor increased my medication and yesterday I was really hungry and ate far too much. It wasn't anything like junk food but too many slices of toast with vegemite. I was just wondering if anyone else has had this happen to them? Have you gained weight from it? It's the first time I've taken this particular medication.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi 16sundayz,

Thanks for your post.

There is a chance with SSRI's (and other medications) that it can lead to increased hunger and weight gain, but I've found that this is pretty rare.

I think what's more likely happening is that it's your body adjusting to the medication. Especially given it's the first time that you've taken it, you may find that you feel hungry for a while and then your appetite levels out.

If you can, I'd advise you to ride it out for a little while to see how your hunger goes and if you feel it's getting worse or better, and then chat with your GP. Most side effects persist between 4-6 weeks.

From a weight gain kind of perspective, you may want to try switching to different foods that are more likely to fill you up for longer - such as porridge, wholegrains etc so you're less hungry.

Hope this is helpful,

[Nurse_Jenn]

Hi 16sundayz,

Great to see you using the forum. With any question related to medication I recommend a discussion with the Doctor who prescribed the medication to you. Not all SSRIS are created equal and each person can react differently to at medication based on their own unique body chemistry. A suggestion I offer to many people is to keep a side effect record so when you do meet with your Doctor - you will have tracked the side effects you are concerned about. If you have immediate concerns or are feeling unsafe, you can always visit a GP Afterhours Clinic or your local Emergency Department if any side effects become an immediate concern.

When people start or have an increase their medication they can become hypervigilant about sensations that are occurring in their body. This is normal. The best way to find out if there is a pattern is to track side effects over a period of time and see if it is getting worse or better ie. description of side effect, time of day, rating of discomfort between 1-10 etc.

If a side effect is interfering with your quality of life, it’s time to make an appointment with your Doctor. I also concur with romantic_ thi3f in relation to eating foods that give you sustained energy. HealthDirect has some great suggestions for eating a balanced and healthy diet and can be found by going to this page. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/healthy-eating

Wishing you the best possible outcome,

Nurse Jenn

[BumbleBumble]

Morning 16sundayz and thanks for asking this question.

There are many things that can influence appetite and medication is one of them. Serotonin is directly related to appetite modulated however generally this is seen as weight loss and not weight gain when taking an SSRI. There is a particular antidepressent that interacts with the serotonin receptor 5HT-2C causing increased appetite. If this is the medication prescribed it is most likely the cause of your acute appetite increase.

I agree with romantic_thi3f and Nurse Jenn. Keep an eye on your appetite, try and focus health eating and regular physical activity. If you find the increased appetite is still a significant concern after 3-4 weeks please discuss this with your GP. There are many options regarding medication adjustments.

Take care