ADHD issues

Ok so I recently began taking ADHD medicine, I never needed it until recently but it's gotten a lot worse. Anyway I run cross country, play basketball ect, not overweight at all, I was 5'11 or 6 foot and 155LB when basketball ended. Anyway 1 1/2 to 2 months later I am the same height but 135LB, and have lost pretty much no muscle, only 20LB I didn't have to lose.

The thing is with ADHD medicine I NEVER get hungry, so I can be sitting around for hours and never think about eating. I don't skip meals or anything usually just snacking never comes to mind ect. I'm worried about losing more weight, and I guess I could try to eat more at meals/force myself to eat between meals but it just sorta feels wierd.

I sorta know what to do but was looking for anybody else who has had a similar problem for TIPS they have gathered, thanks.

 

It's all the jokers fault

In all seriousness though, the weight loss may not be solely the lack of eating, it sounds like you do a lot of cardio which is great for weight loss.

In the past I have had eating problems and the only way through it is to stretch your stomach by forcing yourself to eat. With that being said though, I have never taken medication that has caused appetite loss. Prior to taking the medication was your eating fine?

It is decent that you are not skipping your main meals. These are the ones that are important. I was told a weight loss tip is to break down the main meals into little snacks, as the sudden intake of food can cause weight gain. The fact that you aren't snacking isn't too bad, but if I were you I would make use of that and be glad that you aren't tempted to turn to biscuits, etc and just have an apple or something.

 

Prior to ADHD medicine I ate a lot more yeah, to be fair I was also doing sports at the time and it is currently my off season so I am not working quite as hard.

 

What are you like without meds? Are they essential to your every day life?

 

ADHD medications are stimulants, which suppresses appetite and leads to weight loss.

The only thing that you can do is either get off the medication (not really recommended as it seems you need it) or find something that increases appetite.

 

Yeah they are pretty essential. I could cope without them before but now that I have had them I'm even worse without, and cannot do any focused work, so that's not an option hah.

Alright Mage I'll look into it then.

 

Have you asked your doctor if there's an alternative medication (or stimulant, whatever you want to call it) available to you?

What are you currently taking at the moment? If you're happy to say.

 

Wow, you're not liking the side effects, but I'm trying to get my hands on some of those meds to help with weight loss lol =p. But yeah, I'd just suggest remembering to eat meals, even if you aren't hungry.

 

you could try some of those like 2000+ calorie protein shakes. that with working out you could gain back weight and have a little muscle as well

 

I have never seen a 2000 calorie protein shake, the most i've seen was the old protein i used and it was a weight gainer, 600 calories for 4 scoops plus a shitload of carbs for weight gaining.

 

hey bro go to your docter or where you got the medicine and ask them this question about not getting hungry ... maybe set up times to eat? like set up a certain time when you eat a meal or get a family member to ask you to eat reguarely

 

I am not sure if you want to go into details, but this may help with responses: Which medicine do you use? There ARE multiple types of drugs for ADHD... Not just one.

 

I'm on 2 different kinds, one with an M and the other with a V, I'll check when I get home. The hunger loss is a common thing for all ADHD medicines I am aware of, and apart from this I am satisfied with the medicine so I'd rather not mess with the mess themself.

 

Looking through the list, there are two types that you can be talking about. Both are what are known as "stimulants". They work in a mannerism to actually increase a set of functionality in your body. Now the downside to them, as you stated, is that they are known to decrease your appetite levels, as well as increase your heart rate/thinning of blood.

My question is, have you tried non-stimulants like Strattera (this one blocks as opposed to accelerates)? There are about a thousand reasons why one is better over the other, but again it depends on who YOU are. I personally have used both and found Strattera in fact allowed me to focus better. At this point you can either do 1 of 2 things.

1. Talk to your doctor and make sure that they like what the drugs are doing or if they have another suggestion. He may suggest trying a different medication. As with everything, changing can be uncomfortable, if not down-right out of the option.

2. Maybe go to the Sports/Health section of the forums and find someone that can help you with placing on a couple extra pounds (healthily). This may require you to actually think about eating and do it properly.

 

I would go to the doctor and ask for some different medication that won't cause a lack of appetite eating is important and is it 100% confirmed you have it?

 

Just because you have a lack of appetite doesn't mean you can't eat. You need to remember that eating is important and by missing a meal, you're running the possibility of getting gastric. Therefore, even if you don't feel like eating, try and snack on some things that are healthy, such as fruits (not junk food).

Alternatively, contact your doctor and see if he/she has another type of medication for you which will not take away your appetite.

 

I am guessing you take something like vyvanse? I take one 40mg pill of vyvance every morning before school. I have been taking it for about almost two years now. I had the same problem when I first started taking the medicine. I would NEVER be hungry. It wasn't that I didn't want to eat, I just didn't feel hungry. For the first month, it also felt as if I was wearing a mask.. I was really dull and had a neutral emotion ALL THE TIME.. I did notice that I was more attentive in class, but I also got more annoyed with background noises. For example, before the medicine I could handle watching TV while someone was talking.. But now, if someone is talking while I am watching TV, it seems like I can't consentrate.. The reason this happens is because you are trying to pay attention to two things at once. Your medicine is making your gut delay decisions made by the brain, thus making you think before you do.. But at the same time you are trying to comprehend the TV show, while trying to tune out the person talking... The same thing happens to me when someone taps their pencil or whistles.

SOME ADVICE FROM ME:
1. Take your medicine in the morning
This is very important because your medicine will last 10-14 hours then begin to ware off. Taking the medicine in the morning will mean that you will not be hungry DURING the day, while you are at school/work, not really eating too much anyway. But then, in the afternoon when you are home the effect of the medicine will ware off and you can eat up.. Be prepared not be hungry around dinner time, but be hungry RIGHT before bed.. Make sure you have things you can prepare on a short notice.. Take advantage of ANY time that you are willing to eat, because it may not come again in that day..

2. Eat breakfast/food with your medicine
I recommend eating something small like a granola bar or a cup of cereal. This will help settle your stomach and will let your medicine take effect (reach your gut) quicker, meaning that it will ware-off earlier and will also get you awake and ready BEFORE you need it.

3. DO NOT try to "gain" your lost weight by eating unhealthy
When I first realized my loss of appetite, I thought that eating unhealthy and fatning food would make up for the other food I didn't eat. I was SOOO wrong. Turns out that when you eat unhealthy WHILE you are eating well below your recommended intake, you will get REALLY sick.. I was throwing up, coughing, and had a crazy bad upset stomach. Make sure you are eating A LOT of protein and vitamins. (I recommend multi-vitamins and omega-3 pills if your eating habit is REALLY bad)

4. Don't skip lunch, no matter how much you want to
Literally, if you have to eat only a few goldfish, then do it. FORCE yourself to eat as much as possible during lunch. I skipped LOADS of lunches. And it will guarentee a loss in weight as well as a loss of matabolism and even loss of strength and energy. Anything you can get in your stomach to settle it is really helpful.

5. USE LIQUIDS AND SMOOTHIES TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
The one thing I recommend the most is using liquids and smoothies to your advantage.. The one thing I remember most when starting the medicine is that I lost my appetite, but I was always willing to drink something. Use this to your advantage. Whip up a smoothie with some fruits and vitamins in it. This will help your intake of natural sugars and minerals. Plus, smoothies are tasty and easy to slurp down anywhere at anytime.. I also recommend slim-fasts if you need something that will fill you up a little. Don't forget to drink a lot of water, especially if you aren't eating too much.

6. Weekends are time to EAT UP
If you can, during the weekends, try not to use your medicine.. While your loss of appetite is gone, go out and EAT LARGE.. (NOT UNHEALTHY).. I recommend something filling, but not rich.. So maybe a big sandwhich or some nachos.. Try not to eat a big steak, because it can screw up your system the second you start not eating again.. Save the steaks for holidays or special occasions where you can take multiple days (3+) off of the medicine.

7. Don't stress out
Even though you stated you were not overweight in the first place, the weight you have lost doesn't seem to be enough to HARM you.. I would stress if it get more severe than it is now. Now, remember, I am not a doctor, so I am not 100% sure if you should be worried at the moment. But I lost a lot of weight and was fine.. I can guarentee the effects will stop being so severe after taking the medicine for a while longer. I eat just as much on the medicine now as I do when I am not taking it.. Your body just needs time to overcome the lack of appetite.


All in all, I think you need to just watch your weight and see if it gets really bad.. For now, just follow my suggestions and try to get A LOOOOT of sleep.

Hope I helped,
Andrew (Anet390)

EDIT: I play soccer and the medicine has not had a negative effect on my sports skills, nor has my weight loss.. Infact, the medicine might help you make good decisions during a game.. Not sure though.

 

Well what kind of meds do you take ? Some of my friends take adhd meds and it makes them really thirsty nsted of hungry its weird

 

May I ask how you have been doing? Gotten better/worse?

 

^Thanks for the detailed post, what I was looking for. However its spring break so I'm not taking the meds, so I haven't been able to test your info, will let you know later