Neurontin and Appetite Loss

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane-

I had always heard that Neurontin caused weight gain in most people including

myself unfortunately. Narcotics usually suppress appetite so I would guess

that your lack of appetite is coming from a combination of stress and

narcotics. However, losing 1-2 lb a week seems concerning to me. Stress can

trigger

your sympathetic nervous system to jump in and suppress appetite. I have lost

weight on Topomax and narcotic pain meds. hope this helps- Margaret

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane

Oh how I wish it made me lose weight. It does cause a funny taste in my

mouth especially if I am taking any kind of narcotic. I noticed it when I

was taking percocet and now I am taking hydrocodone and it does the same

thing. So perhaps it is the Dilaudid that is part of the problem.

It tastes like my tongue has a coating on it if that makes any sense. I

brush my teeth alot with a toothpaste with a strong flavor and drink iced

tea. The iced tea is the only thing that comes close to cutting the taste. I

use regular tea and add one teabag of constant comment to give the tea a

cinnamon flavor.

Do you have Carnation Instant breakfast drink in Canada? It is a powder that

you add to milk and is the equivalent of one meal. It is cheaper than Ensure

which is another liquid substitute that was originally used for tube feeding

in hospitals etc. It has a very rich strong flavor that is nasty if you ask

me but the Carnation Instant Breakfast just smells like milk. Obviously you

could use it in whole milk and even add ice cream and make a milk shake to

increase your caloric intake.

Perhaps vanilla pudding would taste appealing. I couldn't eat anything but

soda crackers and vanilla pudding during 6 weeks prior to having my gall

bladder removed in 1998. Oh and of course I could drink iced tea. Do you get

an impression that there is a tea theme going here? haha

Kaylene

>

>Hi everyone,

>

>I know a lot of us are on Neurontin and I had a question: do you find

>it has affected your appetite?

>

>At first I was pleased that my appetite was decreased because I had

>put on a lot of weight since my back problems started in Feb/03.

>I could still eat anything, I just didn't feel hungry anymore.

>

>Now I can't eat much apart from yogurt shakes. I am losing 1-2lb a

>week, which would be fine if I was dieting and exercising, but it's a

>bit scary since it's happening involuntarily. Also I am tired of not

>being able to eat real food (and getting darn sick of yogurt).

>

>My doctor thinks that it's due to stress. It's true that I have had a

>lot of stress just lately. But I have always been a " comfort eater " .

>That's part of the reason I put on so much weight after my back

>problems started. Also my stress level goes up and down but my

>appetite loss is just getting steadily worse.

>

>He also said that the Dilaudid that I am taking was more likely to be

>the culprit than the Neurontin. But my dose has been pretty steady at

>8mg/day since I went on it in October, while my Neurontin dose has

>been climbing (I am now up to 2400mg/day).

>

>Anyway, what do you guys think? Could the Neurontin be responsible? I

>really don't want to decrease the dose or stop taking it because it

>has been so helpful to me. But this appetite thing is getting

>ridiculous.

>

>Thanks for any input,

>Diane

>in Vancouver, B.C., Canada

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi, Diane,

I am a newbie to neurontin and only on 600mg a day. Despite the

fact that it makes my stomach growl, I do not have an appetite

either. I'm eating a lot less, but I've lost no weight....only lost

my appetite! Topamax didn't help my nerve pain at all, so I'm

sticking with the Neurontin for now. Being in chronic pain doesn't

help the appetite either. But, I'll just keep " enjoying " the yogurt

shakes and settle for less pain. Good luck with your pain control.

Hope you feel better soon!!

Sherrie

[Guest guest]

Diane,

The neurontin started by making me not hungry. Later it got to where I

couldn't eat, I'd just vomit repeatedly. But, the neurontin wasn't

helping me, so I didn't stay on it long term. It does sound more likely

to be the culprit though if it keeps increasing. Good luck, I hope they

can figure out a way to test this and see which one is doing it so you

can decide whether it's worth it or not

Broaders

STOP THE PAIN!

www.rsdresearch.com

chris@...

[Guest guest]

Diane,

Neurontin caused me to lose my appetite. I lost close to 30 lbs.

Christy

[Guest guest]

dear kaylene, i have put on weight since ive been on neurontin i take 1800mg

a day and slows yor metabolism down as do most pain meds so i dont think you

should stop takin it hope this is the answer you need but thats what my

neuroligist told me

>

>Reply-To: chronic_pain

>To: chronic_pain

>Subject: RE: Neurontin and appetite loss

>Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2004 17:40:13 -0700

>

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[Guest guest]

Hello all,

Maybe it is just me, but ever since I have been on Neurontin some foods just

don't taste the same and foods I used to not like taste good.

Has anyone else had this happen?

I am currently on Neurontin, Ditropan, HCTHZ, and Nexium. My pain medication

depends on my pain level. I take Norco for mild pain, Percocet for moderate pain

and Oxycontin for severe pain.

My " taster " went outta whack when I started taking the Neurontin. I was just

wondering if anyon else has had this happen.

Pain free wishes to all.

" I had nothing to offer anybody except my own confusion. " ~Saint Jack Kerouac

Authors Website:

http://www.AuthorsDen.com/Huber

Huber@...

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie

No I won't stop taking it because it is the main medication that helps

relieve this neuropathy pain.

I am going to try harder to exercise and cut my portions down etc.

Kaylene

>

>dear kaylene, i have put on weight since ive been on neurontin i take

>1800mg

>a day and slows yor metabolism down as do most pain meds so i dont think

>you

>should stop takin it hope this is the answer you need but thats what my

>neuroligist told me

>

>

_________________________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

,

I have had the same exact problem since I started on the Neurontin.

Jeff S. - NY/PA

" Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens. " -- Jimi Hendrix

[Guest guest]

-Hi , If I didnt know better I'd say you are pregnant! . . .by

the way,I didnt do it! hahaha sorry,I jus had to!judi