While the stimulating effects of many ADHD medications normally suppress appetite and may initially cause weight loss in children and adolescents, these drugs are also linked to the possibility of significant weight gain later in life.
Can ADHD Medications Cause Weight Loss? Sometimes the medicines most often used to treat ADHD can cause weight loss. Stimulant drugs like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) make you less hungry and make your body burn calories faster than usual.
Several studies have shown that those with ADHD are prone to obesity and find it hard to lose weight. This is not surprising. Adults with ADHD aren't always aware of their food intake. Many eat while doing another activity — watching television, say, or even driving — so they lose track of the calories they consume.
Stimulant drugs like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) decrease your appetite and increase your metabolism, causing you to eat less and burn calories quicker than usual.
This translated in an increased pooled prevalence of obesity by about 70% in adults with ADHD (28.2%, 95% CI = 22.8–34.4) compared with those without ADHD (16.4%, 95% CI = 13.4–19.9), and by about 40% in children with ADHD (10.3%, 95% CI = 7.9–13.3) compared with those without ADHD (7.4%, 95% CI = 5.4–10.1).
A study found that people who were effectively treated for ADHD symptoms lost 12% of their body weight and sustained the loss for at least a year, while people who were not taking medication gained 3% of their body weight in the same period.
More overweight and obese subjects were found in the ADHD-sample. Impulsive behavior in ADHD-boys with hyperactivity may lead to an increased food intake, which is then likely to overcompensate the heightened energy expenditure.
Ironically, Adderall — a popular ADHD medication made from a combination of amphetamines — was originally developed and marketed over 20 years ago as a weight loss medication under the name “Obetrol.” Dexedrine is another ADHD medication that has been prescribed for weight control.
That's because stimulant medications also work on the part of the brain that controls hunger. “I'm just not hungry at mealtime,” Ben explains. “It's like taking a diet pill and then sitting down at the table to eat,” says Dr. Larry Silver, Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical School.
What Are the Side Effects of Nonstimulants? Atomoxetine might cause: Upset stomach. Less appetite, which may cause weight loss.
Why ADHD Often Leads to Obesity. Despite their assumed hyperactivity, people with ADHD are less physically active, eat less healthy foods, and have higher BMIs than do people without ADHD, according to studies.
People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tend to be over eaters. Indeed, obesity is five times more prevalent among people with ADHD than those who don't have this condition.
Thus, this paper shows that despite a notably greater energy expenditure, ADHD kids are not generally leaner, clearly suggesting that they manage to make up for their greater energy needs through higher caloric intake.
The most common side effects are loss of appetite and trouble sleeping. Other ADHD medicine side effects include jitteriness, irritability, moodiness, headaches, stomachaches, fast heart rate, and high blood pressure. Side effects usually happen in the first few days of starting a new medicine or taking a higher dose.
“Clearly, that is not the case.” It could be that kids with the worst ADHD symptoms end up on medication earlier or for longer, and when they go off the medication their ADHD symptoms return and lead to obesity-inducing behaviors, like overeating, he said.
When the dosage is too high, stimulants can cause children or even adults to seem “spacey” or “zombie-like,” or to be uncharacteristically tearful or irritable (a condition known as emotional lability). In general, the best way to rein in these side effects is simply to lower the dosage.
While the stimulating effects of many ADHD medications normally suppress appetite and may initially cause weight loss in children and adolescents, these drugs are also linked to the possibility of significant weight gain later in life.
Sometimes, a non-stimulant medication, such as imipramine (Tofranil), might be tried to see if it decreases the ADHD behaviors without impacting appetite.
The initial dose of dexamphetamine was 5 mg at breakfast and lunchtime, followed by weekly incremental dose increases of 5 mg twice daily, to a maximum of 30 mg twice daily.
Students without ADHD who find themselves tempted to use medications for which they do not have prescriptions need to know: Doing so is illegal. They could be arrested for possession of a controlled substance. There are health risks related to taking a medication not prescribed for you.
Those with ADHD may be likely to forget to eat and to binge later. They may also have trouble planning and shopping ahead, which can result in spur-of-the-moment and uncontrolled eating.
ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it's thought the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of someone with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.
Loss of appetite is among the most common side effects of stimulant for ADHD. Across studies, approximately 20% of patients with ADHD who were treated with stimulants reported a loss of appetite [1,2]. Weight loss is also quite common, as are digestive problems [3].