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Appetite changes with medicine?

suppakana
suppakana Posts: 307 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So in spring 2011, I began taking birth control. Combination pill. Supposedly most people gain weight on the pill - I started losing, almost immediately. Dropped 20 lbs in the first two months. In June this year, I stopped taking the pill (personal reasons, not related to babymaking)... And my appetite soared. Like, eating entire bags of cookies, giant plates of food, and not feeling sated. I was always hungry. Always. Over the past half year, I've regained 30 lbs that took me the past year, two years to drop.

So about two weeks ago, I had the birth control implant put into my arm. Again, my appetite is changing. I ate one medium sized plate of food for dinner two days ago... and actually felt sated. Like I had eaten enough. It's a feeling I haven't had in way too long without also feeling like I stuffed myself like a Thanksgiving turkey.

Is it normal for medication to change your appetite like this? And now I'm kind of worried about the next time I decide to stop taking birth control. They're hormone based - should I go get my levels checked out now to find out if I have an imbalance somewhere?

Any input is appreciated! :sweat_smile:

Replies

  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    edited December 2014
    That is a very interesting result that was repeatable in your case. From a Google search it seems about 50% gain and 50% lose weight when taking the combination pill. Clearly why some gain/lose weight is more complex than once thought.
  • CodeMonkey78
    CodeMonkey78 Posts: 320 Member
    I cannot speak for birth control pills specifically, but it is completely normal for some medications to affect your appetite. I have had to take several (over the course of years) that adversely affect mine. Your hormones should be perfectly fine; something inside of the medication is probably affecting your normal ghrelin/leptin levels.

    HTH.
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    If you're concerned, talk to your doctor and get checked out. I have the exact opposite reaction to hormonal birth control - I gain weight. The hormones screw up my signals something fierce, and I end up having PMS-style hunger all month long, eating more, and gaining weight, along with a host of other unpleasant side effects.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Well, observing my daughter's pregnancy where she was nauseous throughout, I found out that an abundance of maternal hormones will have that effect. Good for the baby, tough on the mother.
  • suppakana
    suppakana Posts: 307 Member
    Thanks for all the input guys! =) I appreciate it. I think I'll just talk to my Dr about it when it's time to get the implant changed out since it's not a problem right now...
  • BigAl_2
    BigAl_2 Posts: 85 Member
    I got the nexplanon implant in September and haven't had any noticeable changes in weight/appetite although I did have constant headaches at first which went away after about 2 months. Maybe once your body adjusts to the hormones you will have a similar response with your appetite? Some changes are normal though and I wouldn't be overly concerned unless you see dramatic changes that affect your health.

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