Antibiotics and hunger.

corinasue1143

Do antibiotics affect your hunger?
I had an infected salivary gland. I was on antibiotics for 12 days. I took my last pill on Friday morning. I went about 600 over my calorie goal Sunday and Monday, and I was over today’s goal by 2 p.m.
I don’t usually do this, so I don’t know what’s causing it. I just know I’m really hungry.
I researched on mfp and didn’t really find any help.
I googled and found one article that said there is some evidence antibiotics may affect your hunger hormones, but it wasn’t very helpful.
Of course I saw the articles about feeding cattle antibiotics to make them gain weight faster.
I don’t know if it’s the antibiotics or not. I just can’t think of any other changes that would cause this hunger.

Luke_rabbit

I don't know if this would be related, but are you using a good probiotic and eating probiotic rich foods to help your good gut bacteria recover from the antibiotic? My gut is always a mess after a course of antibiotics, but I also seem to have been colonized as a baby by some easy to decimate bacteria strains.

corinasue1143

Yes, the things I read mentioned probiotics. I didn’t take any during, but started the day after. It’s a different brand than I’ve ever used before. Do you think it could be the probiotics? I hadn’t thought of that. I’ve taken probiotics many times before. I just like prebiotic foods, so eat them fairly often.

puffbrat

Personally, antibiotics have never affected my hunger.

Did you eat less than usual while you were ill? Is it that time of the month?

corinasue1143

I did eat less for the first 3 days, then 2 slightly higher cal days, 1 really high on purpose, trying to catch up, then back to normal for the last 6 days. I thought that part was behind me.
Menopausal, so no.
The last time I remember taking antibiotics was about 30 years ago, so I don’t remember if they affected my appetite.

mbaker566

i just finished a round of antibiotics and i was insatiable. i also tried google and found little information. but yeah, i wanted to eat everything in sight

SeptemberFeyre

I just had this happen to me as well for the first time ever. I took a round of doxycycline for my sinus infection and before I knew it I was actually really hungry every morning which is not normal for me. It’s been about a month now and things are finally getting back to normal.I think this may happen because the antibiotic kills off good bacteria and changes your micro biome in your intestinal tract and your brain and gut are linked by the Vagus nerve.

corinasue1143

I only went 150 calories over yesterday. Usually I want and need more protein, but the last few days, I want fat, and it satisfies more.

corinasue1143

I usually have breakfast 8-8:30, lunch 12-12:30. This morning, I woke up hungry, ate at 7. By 10 am all I could think about is lunch, snack before lunch, soup now while I plan lunch, etc.

NovusDies

You could simply be confusing your bodies need for more energy while you fight an infection. If you are in a calorie deficit you should not be until you are fully recovered.

corinasue1143

I’m over the infection, and currently not eating at a deficit. I’m trying to, just failing. I have averaged about 50 below tdee this week.
I just ate a 6” Subway sub, chips and a cookie. I’m seriously considering eating the other half of the foot long.
I don’t think I ever have in my life eaten a whole 12” sub. I often have a 6”and nothing else, or 1/3 of a foot long with chips. Trying to lose weight or not.

HoneyBadger302

Personally antibiotics have not affected my hunger (and was on them for ~6 months after a hardware infection on a broken leg). The side effects of WHY you need the antibiotics was more in line with my hunger - after a surgery, or while healing, then my hunger would go up. There's also the depletion/replenishment your body goes through when sick/injuries - your resources get depleted during, then you body tells you it needs them replenished. I would hazard a guess that's likely what you're experiencing.

If you're (normally) in a deficit, try eating at maintenance for a week or so and see if you can then return to a deficit.

corinasue1143

I am pretty much eating at maintenance, I’ve just been trying not to. I will quit fighting it and just try harder to eat healthy. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I was sicker than I thought. I never felt bad. That’s a good thing! But maybe my body was fighting harder than I realized. I’ll just be good to it a little while and see what happens. Thanks everyone for your replies.