ADD Medication causes loss of appetite

Hi all, I wanted to get your ideas and see if anyone else has this problem. I take Concerta 54mg, which is a pill for ADD(helps me focus better). One of the side effects of it is that it makes my appetite non existent. I could literally go all day long and not once feel hungry. Some days, I feel hunger only at night before bed(I think its because thats when the medicine starts to wear off). Even then it isnt that much. Usually, I have to force myself to eat. Im not anorexic or anything, I just dont ever feel hungry. I was wondering if you could recommend something, maybe a really good powdered drink that really works(I've tried Ensure and Carnation instant breakfast). Perhaps you know of some magic supplement that increases hunger? Thanks!

Explain this to your doctor and request a medication change.

all ADD meds are like that..

it's the same effect as cocaine or speed in prescription form.

How long have you been on the medication?

I'm currently on 20mg Adderall XR and 80mg Strattera for my ADD.

Eventually the appetite thing goes away and you want to eat again, a good way of combatting it is to eat a decent amount early on in the day before you take your medicine (it helps!) or after.

Recently some people did a studdy of how weight was affected by ADD meds, and the trend seemed to be that after 3 months most of the weight they had lost initially they gained back. If you take it regularly for a while, and don't skip days, your appetite will return to normal. And eating early on really helps :)

I hope this answered your question, if you have any more about ADD meds feel free to ask me, I'm experienced. :P

Ive been on this med for the last 2-3 years. Recently on the weekend I skip a day or two taking it, but Ive been having this problem ever since starting, so I dont think it could be that. I dont want to change meds because they really help. I guess I will just make a concious effort to eat as much as possible(healthy foods of course, lol). Thanks though!

Ah ADD medication. I was on Straterra (prior to the "black box" warning) and at first it started as not having any appetite, and then morphed into an eating disorder and I lost something like 30-40 pounds in 2 months.

Original Post by lalabanana:

Explain this to your doctor and request a medication change.

 Lala, i really don't think it's best to automatically give that advice without more background information. as winners said, she finds this medication effective long-term, and as someone with ADD on meds I personally(not saying the following is universally applicable) find the appetite-reduction side effect to be a controllable situation-you just have to be more conscious.

Original Post by winnersmw:

Ive been on this med for the last 2-3 years. Recently on the weekend I skip a day or two taking it, but Ive been having this problem ever since starting, so I dont think it could be that. I dont want to change meds because they really help. I guess I will just make a concious effort to eat as much as possible(healthy foods of course, lol). Thanks though!

Eat a big healthy breakfast before taking your meds.  SCHEDULE and EAT small snacks througout the morning, lunch and afternoon.  Eat a big healthy dinner when your meds begin to wear off in the evening.  ALSO, don't dismiss discussin this with your doctor - after 2 or 3 years of the same meds you may need an adjustment, perhaps a lower dose.  Skipping meds on the weekend is not a good idea - though it was once believed to be okay, it no longer is because those meds need to stay built up in your system in order to work right and so your body stays adjusted.