[freelancemomma]

I went back on my antidepressant a few weeks ago. (I've been taking it on and off for years, for anxiety rather than depression.) I've noticed that it's taken some of the edge off my "mental appetite" (by which I mean the desire to eat beyond my physiological needs and hunger levels). The small downside is that I don't enjoy eating quite as much, but overall it's a good thing. I suppose I'm feeling a little more like a "normal person" around food.

Has anyone else found that medication affects physiological or mental hunger in one direction or another?

F.

[HoosierHeather]

Heavens yes.

But in the opposite direction.

For several years I was on Paxil, and gained a load of weight. It caused weird, new binging behavior in me.

I was also on Elavil for a time (for IBS, not depression) and it made me crave sweets.

Whenever I take an antihistamine like Benadryl or even a similar ingredient in something like Advil/Tylenol PM, I crave chocolate and also have much less willpower at avoiding the night time munchies.

That's great your medicine has the opposite effect!

[summerlove]

Yep. Im on wellbutrin and holy moly, while I love the effects it has given me (more energy, less anxiety and "worry"), I no longer love food the same way ~ it's just not as enjoyable as before. It almost makes me a bit grumpy, not being able to enjoy sweets and get that "release" like I used to (I know, bizarre)...but I'm telling myself this is what I need, so I'm sticking with it.

[Elizabetti]

Yep, I went off Prozac last year and gained 20 lbs! I'm happy that I can feel normal without the daily prozac fix, but the weight gain has certainly sucked.

[taramade]

My meds tend to make me feel like i'm going to starve to death especially in the mornings. (zoloft) I'm trying to find other more natural meds to take for my mood so I don't have to rely on zoloft anymore... I feel like it's one of the biggest crutches I have against me when it comes to controlling my bad eating habits.

[Elizabeth779]

I have heard that some anti-depressants can make a person feel hungry, and some can help with decreasing hunger. Maybe if you talk to your doc he can adjust to something that will help with hunger?