i have recently srarted add meds at the age of 24 but the thing is its causing me to lose weight i think.
did any of you lose weight on your meds which where they and are there any suggestions for meds that dont cause weightloss thanks.:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Hello, and welcome!

I have just started meds myself and really notice that I have to force myself to eat. I could stand to lose a few pounds though so I am not too concerned with it at the moment. I don't know if there are any meds that are better or worse with the appetite and weight loss, however no matter what meds you are taking, you really have to make an effort to eat whether you are hungry or not. It takes some time in the morning or night beforere but no matter if you are in school or any type of job, you can have a whole days worth of healthy nutritious food on hand for when you need to eat (or when you actually get hungry). I also find that when it is time to eat or when I get hungry I don't crave the junk food that I used to, I actually crave the healthy food. There are times when I don't eat as well as I should which is okay, but overall, the healthy eating really helps.

mandymoo, here is a thread inwhich we have been talking about ADD and weightloss (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35755). You might find it helpful.

For many of us with ADD, weightloss and decreased appetite is a good thing. I have found it easier to control my impulsive eating and knowing when I have had enough. However, if you are losing too much weight and are worried about becoming under-weight you may want to talk to your doctor about starting and appetite stimulant like Megace. I work at a nursing home and we give it to people that don't have an appetite and need to gain weight. Also, you should look at what you eat when you do eat. Try to eat healthy and nutritious foods but select things that are higher in calories and protein. Nuts are good to snack on. Also, you may want to get some nutrition suppliment shakes. They often have as many calories as a full meal without all the bulk. There are a lot to choose from and you can get them from any grocery store or health store like GNC. Most of all, be sure to take a daily vitamin and mineral suppliment. Keep us informed on how things are going.

At one time, before ADHD drugs were used for ADHD they were used as weight loss drugs. My grandmother took Dexadrine when it was a weight loss drug and mom told me that it worked for her. So I guess there is a great possibility for weight loss on this drug. Over time it will hit a plateau which is different in each person. Good luck...

Andy...

I started taking Adderall last week and it has certainly decreased my appetite. I also have to force myself to eat, because I know my body is hungry but I'm not feeling it. The fact that I started treatment also motivated me enough to go back to the gym.. so I'm definitely looking forward to losing some weight and improve my general body health. Before Adderall I'd just eat whenever and whatever I felt like eating, so I'm kinda glad at least that has stopped.

I started adderall a couple weeks ago and I am loving the weight loss. Another med I had been on had caused me to gain 12 lbs in two months. So I am finally getting back down to healthy weights.

I am just now learning about the meds out there, but if you feel like you are losing too much weight, if you are a smaller person to start with, be sure to let your dr know.

I've lost weight but since I've been eating less I'm not sure if that's the only reason or if the adderall actually raises my metabolism. Does anyone know? Should I be eating MORE than I used too? Lately I feel like the adderall isnt helping and i'm irritable/anxious/depressed/stressed/unmotivated. Could this be because I'm not eating enough? I noticed that sometimes when the adderall wears off if I havent eaten much i feel light headed but even if I dont get food cause I'm too busy it passes. Either way, I'm just wondering if my lack of concentration and time perception could be due to malnutrition rather than ineffectiveness of the adderall. Does anyone have any experience with this? As an added piece of info, my doctor has kinda let me play w. dosages and see what works best for me and I typically take a 30 mg and 1 or 2 10 mg doses later on (adderall xr). Also, the adderall wears off waaaay before 12 hrs

I have lost weight on Adderall too but have not been eating less healthy, as far as I know. I too found that I was more able to stick to a work out and control impulsive eating because of it. I joined Weight Watchers for an added boost but sometimes I feel like an imposter, with everybody sitting there talking about the struggle of trying to fight cravings and temptations and I don't feel those things anymore. Basically the only thing I'm getting from it is an official documentation of my progress. Well, actually that isn't entirely true - the whole thing with writing down what you eat has actually helped me realized when I haven't eaten enough in a day. I can hardly say that at a meeting though!It has made me think about the whole weight loss struggle thing and how maybe instead of being so phobic and judgmental about drugs, we should be more open to the idea of meds for weight loss, especially for those who are significantly overweight. Why should it be a lifelong uphill struggle? From my vantage point now I can't help thinking that fighting fat without some kind of assistance is just a losing battle.

Im on Dex ,and waiting for additioal new meds,My weight is the same now,probably less before i had my sons,im at 53kilos,im 'bout 5'4,but i do have a problem finging jeans and stuff to fit cause my waist is so small(smallback arch).I need to force myself with foods,but i indulge in chocolate forever :D my junk addiction,........mornings i eat without thinking,i get nausiated at the thought of food sometimes,but if i dont eat correctly it interacts with my meds and alls i want to do is sleep.

This is my 2nd full day on Ritalin 10mg 2x daily. I am really liking the reaction my body has taken to the med. I too, have a decreased appetite. I had to force myself to eat yesterday. But today my stomach feels different:confused:

My stomach is not really upset, but it feels hungry. But even though I have that hunger feeling, I don't feel like eating. It almost feels like my taste buds don't want anything. Does that make sense? Does anyone else feel this way? So I tried eating just a little bit to see how I would feel and the feeling is still there. I feel empty.

I am on concerta 54 mg the first week or so I did not really feel like eating but I eat normal now. I hear people talk all the time about how they do not eat and lose weight on ADD meds...not me...guess i'm the exception to the rule. I feel like I eat all the damn time. I do not need to lose weight but I feel like I eat too much. I work out every morning (run 30-40 minutes a day plus lift weights and other activites) so I really do not know if this is why I eat a lot . I actually feel like I eat more now then before.
However I no longer have cravings for sugary foods like I did before. I use to love cake and ice cream at b-day parties but I can not stand to look at it. There are other foods too that I do not like either now that I take concerta. So I guess in a way it did effect me my eating habits.
I just wish that I did not eat so damn much.

if anyone is wants to write down what they eat everyday Fitday.com is an excellent source for keeping track and it is free.

I had major problems eating the first few weeks on adderall. I had to force myself to eat, even if it's worn off, I still have a decreased appetite. It took about 3 weeks and I can eat even right after I take it. At first, nothing had any flavor. Now, after the first bite, everything's fine. I don't think about food anymore, eating must be a conscious and forced decision. I can't stand to go to the grocery store (thank goodness I live in NYC). The ironic thing is, is that I used to spend excessive amounts of time worrying about my weight (I was anorexic as a teenager). I am 5'3" and 110 and I realize that if I lose too much weight, I will not be able to take the adderall and it helps a lot!!! It really helps with my moodiness and I am really calm. I now don't worry about my weight anymore and finally feel freed of that obsessive cycle that plagued me for many, many years. I can finally rationally understand that I need to eat and make sure that I eat well-balanced meals. The only problem I have is that if I eat before taking adderall, it doesn't work. This has happened twice. Once I ate some turkey, the other time some nuts and it didn't work at all. Has anyone experienced this??? I'm going to ask my psychiatrist. BTW, I have Celiac's disease and have to adhere to a gluten-free diet, so no wheat, oats, barley or rye. I mainly eat fruit, vegetables, nuts, fish and meat.

I lost about 15 lbs going on dex and strattera.

To ensure good health, I would suggest several small meals throughout the day. You may also want to see about meal replacement shakes. I know they're not the most appetizing things in the world, but I found it much easier to 'drink' my meals rather than sitting down and chewing on them. I wouldn't suggest you do this for all of your meals though.

I'm not sure how much weight I've lost due to my meds since I don't have a scale, but I do know that my "skinny" pants fit comfortably. Adderall has helped curb my appetite as well as the constant thought of it. Usually food is always on my mind, but on medication it's far from it.

If you don't want to lose weight you may need to switch for higher calorie drinks like juice or protein shakes to add more calories without having to actually eat more. Also, you can try a non-stimulant drug which maybe less likely to make you stop eating.

Stimulants can lower appetite, which is obviously one side of the weight loss equation.

As for the other side of the weightloss equation (energy output/physical activity) -- I do understand that Ritalin does not increase physical activity (physical energy) as much as other stimulants though.

Dexedrine didn't make me LOSE weight, but i was able to quit smoking w/o gaining weight.

Treating my sleep disorders also helped the weight come off....

I am on concerta 54 mg the first week or so I did not really feel like eating but I eat normal now. I hear people talk all the time about how they do not eat and lose weight on ADD meds...not me...guess i'm the exception to the rule. I feel like I eat all the damn time. I do not need to lose weight but I feel like I eat too much. I work out every morning (run 30-40 minutes a day plus lift weights and other activites) so I really do not know if this is why I eat a lot . I actually feel like I eat more now then before.
However I no longer have cravings for sugary foods like I did before. I use to love cake and ice cream at b-day parties but I can not stand to look at it. There are other foods too that I do not like either now that I take concerta. So I guess in a way it did effect me my eating habits.
I just wish that I did not eat so damn much.

if anyone is wants to write down what they eat everyday Fitday.com is an excellent source for keeping track and it is free.
Adderall definitely decreased my appetite at first. I started taking it 4 months ago... I am 120lb female, taking 15mg 3 times a day. I eat normally, although my sense of hunger doesnt feel like it used it... Does anyone know WHY this is happening? Is it a sign that the adderall is no longer working??
More importantly, does anyone know how I can stop eating all the damn time? ugh.. i'm only 5ft 1

I had major problems eating the first few weeks on adderall. I had to force myself to eat, even if it's worn off, I still have a decreased appetite. It took about 3 weeks and I can eat even right after I take it. At first, nothing had any flavor. Now, after the first bite, everything's fine. I don't think about food anymore, eating must be a conscious and forced decision. I can't stand to go to the grocery store (thank goodness I live in NYC). The ironic thing is, is that I used to spend excessive amounts of time worrying about my weight (I was anorexic as a teenager). I am 5'3" and 110 and I realize that if I lose too much weight, I will not be able to take the adderall and it helps a lot!!! It really helps with my moodiness and I am really calm. I now don't worry about my weight anymore and finally feel freed of that obsessive cycle that plagued me for many, many years. I can finally rationally understand that I need to eat and make sure that I eat well-balanced meals. The only problem I have is that if I eat before taking adderall, it doesn't work. This has happened twice. Once I ate some turkey, the other time some nuts and it didn't work at all. Has anyone experienced this??? I'm going to ask my psychiatrist. BTW, I have Celiac's disease and have to adhere to a gluten-free diet, so no wheat, oats, barley or rye. I mainly eat fruit, vegetables, nuts, fish and meat.I am in a VERY similar situation. I have been struggling with an eating disorder for 10 year. I am not 23. I went through episodes of bulemia and annorexia. Being diagnosed with ADD helped me tremendously in dealing with these issues. I was no longer obsessed, and was able to eat regularly, rationally and healthfully! My appetite did decrease, although I was still eating. What is worrying me now is that my appetite and obsessive thoughts seem to be returning, despite taking 15mg of adderall 3 times a day. I have been on it for about 4 months now. Does anyone know why this is happening and how I can stop it? I'm getting really anxious and worried... do you think it is a sign of the drug no longer working?

Adderall definitely decreased my appetite at first. I started taking it 4 months ago... I am 120lb female, taking 15mg 3 times a day. I eat normally, although my sense of hunger doesnt feel like it used it... Does anyone know WHY this is happening? Is it a sign that the adderall is no longer working??
More importantly, does anyone know how I can stop eating all the damn time? ugh.. i'm only 5ft 1this is very frustrating for me too! I weighed myself for the first time since I started concerta 2 months and I gained 7lbs...I do not need to gain any weight I am 5'7" and typically 140...good weight. some days I just do not feel like it is working at all...I have no idea...what to think...I will try to watch what I eat more...does anyone have a clue why this is happening....

should i not eat before I take concerta???