ADHD Meds causing diet problems

AubriG2448
AubriG2448 Posts: 1 Member
edited November 13 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm currently taking 40mg of Adderall and it has tremendously decreased my appetite. I find it hard to meet my calorie and nutrient goal everyday without feeling very stuffed. I'm also craving a lot of sweets. Any advice would be helpful.

Replies

  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Eat fruit!!
  • NinjaChinchillaNZ
    NinjaChinchillaNZ Posts: 56 Member
    You have the opposite problem to my partner - he's on ADD meds and anti depressants but has trouble with over eating. Have you just started taking them recently? It can take a while for your body to adjust. Most of the literature on ADD / ADHD and nutrition says that you should ideally go for nutrient dense foods, reduce your intake of refined carbs (like white bread, cereal etc.) and increase protein and non starchy vegetables. Bananas are good for reducing sugar cravings and providing nutrition. You might find protein bars helpful too - the kind that are low carb, low calorie, low sugar but still satisfy your cravings for sweet stuff.
  • andrea_nichol
    andrea_nichol Posts: 47 Member
    Can you ask your prescriber for a dose decrease to see if that helps your appetite? Or could consider switch to another med for ADHD.
  • mandamoxie
    mandamoxie Posts: 27 Member
    I recently started taking Ritalin, and it does the same thing. I've started eating fewer meals, but trying to cram more calories into them. I kinda like it because it allows me to eat more calorie dense foods during my meals that typically I'd have to try to cut down on or cut out. Be sure to try to eat a substantial meal before taking your first dose for the day.

    Did you just start taking them recently, because I did also find that after a few weeks my appetite got a bit better. The meds still suppress it, for sure, but not quite as bad when I first started.
  • mandamoxie
    mandamoxie Posts: 27 Member
    andrea_nichol wrote: »
    Can you ask your prescriber for a dose decrease to see if that helps your appetite? Or could consider switch to another med for ADHD.

    Unfortunately, I think (though am not sure) this is something that typically happens with all ADHD medications. When I was first put on Ritalin I mentioned to my doctor that once we upped my dose to 20 mg taken twice or three times daily I had a decrease in appetite. He told me that a moderate decrease in appetite is expected, and can actually be a sign that you're at the proper dosage. However, extreme appetite loss can definitely mean you're taking too much.
  • jaketmayer
    jaketmayer Posts: 1 Member
    If you have ADHD save yourself the time and don't take adderoll. No matter what anyone tells you, you don't need adderoll. Adhd makes you... you! Don't let a medication change you. I am extremely hyper and I have bad attention issues but Adderall just make life boring and made me lose like 20 pounds and all the muscle I'd worked so hard to gain. You do you and don't let meds effect you!
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    AubriG2448 wrote: »
    I'm currently taking 40mg of Adderall and it has tremendously decreased my appetite. I find it hard to meet my calorie and nutrient goal everyday without feeling very stuffed. I'm also craving a lot of sweets. Any advice would be helpful.

    I can't wrap my head around simultaneously finding it difficult to meet your calorie goal and having cravings, so will just give you my generic info on cravings:

    When I do the following, I don't have cravings:

    1. Get sufficient sleep
    2. Exercise regularly - when I get the happy hormones from exercise, I'm not prone to seeking them from food.
    3. Get sufficient protein in relationship to carbs. I'm not low carb, but reducing carbs and upping protein worked for cravings for me. See also http://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/fuller/understanding-satiety-feeling-full-after-a-meal.html
    4. Eat moderate amounts of fruit. This makes me less interested in higher calorie sweets.
    5. Take a magnesium supplement. This can be especially helpful for women premenstrually.
    6. Save foods like chocolate for after dinner, in small amounts
    7. Stay hydrated
    8. Have a calorie deficit that is appropriate for the amount of weight I need to lose. An overly aggressive goal can definitely lead to cravings.
    9. Eat at maintenance when my appetite goes up premenstrually.
  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
    Someone I worked with was on Adderall and she ate a big breakfast before she took the meds. That seemed to lessen the appetite suppressant. She generally ate a very light lunch and by late evening she said the meds had worn off. She lost a few pounds but she found the above balance and didn't lose any more on it.
  • misskarne
    misskarne Posts: 1,765 Member
    jaketmayer wrote: »
    If you have ADHD save yourself the time and don't take adderoll. No matter what anyone tells you, you don't need adderoll. Adhd makes you... you! Don't let a medication change you. I am extremely hyper and I have bad attention issues but Adderall just make life boring and made me lose like 20 pounds and all the muscle I'd worked so hard to gain. You do you and don't let meds effect you!

    I don;t have ADHD but I can think of dozens of scenarios of the top of my head where having "bad attention issues" could be EXTREMELY dangerous. This is irresponsible advice.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,292 Member
    jaketmayer wrote: »
    If you have ADHD save yourself the time and don't take adderoll. No matter what anyone tells you, you don't need adderoll. Adhd makes you... you! Don't let a medication change you. I am extremely hyper and I have bad attention issues but Adderall just make life boring and made me lose like 20 pounds and all the muscle I'd worked so hard to gain. You do you and don't let meds effect you!

    Strong first post for this account within minutes of first visiting the site.

    Based on your description and outlook which have earie similarities to what I've heard from other people i've personally known and who were not compliant with the medication prescribed by their doctor to help control neurotransmitter imbalances... go back to your doctor and work on your medication type and dosage and ask for some explanations as to why life is both boring and wonderful when you're not swinging between highs and lows.
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