Appetite - increased

Alternative Names

Home Care

Emotional support, and in some cases counseling, are recommended.

For drugs that cause increased appetite and weight gain, ask your health care provider if you can decrease the dosage or stop the medication. ASK YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BEFORE CHANGING ANY MEDICATIONS.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your health care provider if:

• You have an unexplained, persistent increase in appetite.
• You have other unexplained symptoms.

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. During the physical examination, the health care provider will probably weigh you. You also may have a psychological evaluation

The doctor will ask you questions about your medical history, with emphasis on your eating habits. Questions may include:

• Eating habits
  • Have you changed your eating habits?
  • Have you begun dieting?
  • Do you have concerns about your weight?
  • What do you eat in a typical day?
  • How much do you eat?
• Medication
  • What medications are you taking?
  • Are you taking any new medications, or have you changed the dose of your medications?
  • Do you use any illicit drugs? If so, which ones?
• Time pattern
  • Does the hunger occur during the sleep period?
  • Does the hunger seem to occur in a pattern related to your menstrual cycle?
• Other
  • What other symptoms are you having at the same time?
  • Have you noticed an increase in anxiety?
  • Do you frequently urinate?
  • Do you have an increased heart rate?
  • Do you have palpitations?
  • Do you feel more thirsty?
  • Have you had an unintentional weight gain?
  • Do you experience intentional or unintentional vomiting?

Tests that may be done includee:

• Blood tests, including a chemistry profile
• Thyroid function tests