Adderall for Narcolepsy, but causing rapid weight loss
I have narcolepsy and started taking Adderall(30mg 2x/day) on October 16th. Since then, my appetite has shrunk to almost nothing, I’ve lost 23+lbs(going from 179lbs on Day 1 of Adderall to 155.6lbs today), & my pant size has dropped from a size 16 down to a 10. Now, I am very aware that weight loss & decreased appetite are possible side effects of this med. But, considering I didn’t have them while on Ritalin(which was just prior to starting Adderall and at the same dose), this all caught my family & I by surprise. In fact, my husband has been very concerned about my continuing weight loss and how quickly it’s happened. To put his mind at ease, I talked to my doctor back in November, who told us not to worry as these are “short-lived” side effects that will disappear/slow down on their own. Additionally, everything else I’ve read online(regarding Adderall and weight loss) supports what my doctor said.
So here are my questions: Does my husband have a valid reason for being worried? Another words, is my weight loss extreme &/or outside of the "norm”? Should I talk to my doctor again, even though he’s already aware of everything and wasn’t worried the 1st time? How much more weight could I expect to lose?
Re: Adderall for Narcolepsy, but causing rapid weight loss
If the Adderall is working well for your narcolepsy, I would first try to stop the weight loss on my own. Try to drink higher calorie drinks. You might not be hungry, but you will probably still be thirsty. Drink smoothies, milk shakes and juice. More likely than not, your appetite will be at it's best in the evenings - eat heavily then including a bedtime snack.
If you try your hardest to stop the weight loss and can't, then yes, definitely, talk to your doctor.
Re: Adderall for Narcolepsy, but causing rapid weight loss
Quote:
Originally Posted by index.html
If the Adderall is working well for your narcolepsy, I would first try to stop the weight loss on my own. Try to drink higher calorie drinks. You might not be hungry, but you will probably still be thirsty. Drink smoothies, milk shakes and juice. More likely than not, your appetite will be at it's best in the evenings - eat heavily then including a bedtime snack.
If you try your hardest to stop the weight loss and can't, then yes, definitely, talk to your doctor.
Thank you for your reply. It's funny how you mention that I should drink more, because lately all I've been is VERY thirsty and ALL the time. I figured it was the "dry mouth" side effect from the med, or maybe just the dry air in my house or at work.
Also, to answer your "question" about whether the Adderall is working for my narcolepsy, yes it is, but gradually. As I always say, though, "something is better than nothing".
Re: Adderall for Narcolepsy, but causing rapid weight loss
Hello,
I was recently diagnosed with narcolepsy as well and was put on Provigil. Just an FYI - I have been on it for about two weeks now and it has caused a major decrease in my appetite as well. I do not have much weight to loose, so it is a little nerve racking, but I try to force something in my stomach even when I'm not hungry - yogurt, granola bar, etc. At least it's something.
I have another appt. today and I'll have to see what they say. Just be careful if you decide to switch, like I said, Provigil is doing the same thing for me.
Good luck!
Re: Adderall for Narcolepsy, but causing rapid weight loss
Hi,
I hope I can be a little helpful here, as this forum has provided me so much info as I explore my own questions:
I've been on adderall since June (for fibro and cfs) and during that time was switched to Provigil for a bit as well.
I am very small (105 pounds at 5ft 3-ish). I was very, very thin (but fit) in the past because I was incredibly active and I guess naturally small in stature, but I started at 121 on adderall in late June and lost about 14 pounds by the end of August. Rapid weight loss is unhealthy, of course, but after the first two months it slowed, and actually the appetite suppression becomes less (at least from what I hear and from my experience) the longer you are on the medication.
I didn't want to lose any more, so I made a few adjustments and found that my weight has been steady now for several months, so for me there was a way to work around the appetite suppression, and maybe it'll help you.
I starterd on 5mg and got up to 45mg (30 am and 15 midafternoon), and at that dose I literally was never hungry. I talked to my doctor and we made some adjustments. (I'm on IR, not XR). I lowered my dosage on my own to between 30 and 40, and now I break my dosage into 3 daily doses and it helps, because the smaller doses don't kill my appetite as much as taking a larger dose all at once. I also read that if your dose is too high it causes more appetite suppression.
I find that I have to eat a healthy breakfast before taking my first dose of Adderall, because in the beginning I could go all day without even realizing I haven't eaten. I try to eat small snacks throughout the day, even those 100-calorie prepackaged things, and drink as much water as I can, because even on adderall if I don't fuel my body with calories and hydrate enough, the fatigue, etc, gets much worse.
Now that my appetite has come back some, I still am less hungry than I was before adderall, so I still do this and it seems helpful to have a routine.
I think losing more than 1.5 to 2 pounds a week is unhealthy, so if you continue to experience a very rapid weight loss and find you don't want to eat at all, I'd talk to the doctor about lowering your dose or trying something else.
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