no appetite:how do you 'make' yourself eat?

[HOGFAN]

I just recently started Topamax. Boy, does it ever squash the appetite. I have lost 3-4 lbs in 2 weeks already. My stomach rumbles and growls but the disconnect is made to the brain. Sometimes just the thought of eating makes me nauseous. My hands are beginning to shake. I know some other folks out there have this problem too so hoping for some pointers. Will this go away as my body adjusts to the med?

 

[jmartinez1895]

My son had this trouble when he first began his seizure meds and it did pass with time. Be sure to call your doctor and let them know you are having a hard time ( if you haven't done so already). Your dose may need to be adjusted. While my son had this trouble we gave him ensure to drink. Some people like carnation instant breakfast or slim fast better. Maybe you could try something like that. We found taht he could drink better than he could eat.

 

[LMC]

I wish I had this problem. I've been on Topamax for years and have never lost weight nor not wanted to eat. I've never been a large person but I think I have gained 10 pounds in the last month!!! Maybe I need a larger dose

 

[OneLittleSpark]

As J said, it's often easier to drink than to eat when you have these sort of problems. For the nausea, I find that anything with ginger in is good, or if that doesn't work Motilium has helped me a lot. If protein shakes are too thick for you (I know when I'm feeling rough, these can be too much for me) you can get protein powder to add to any drink. You should be able to get it at any pharmacy or health food shop, and it will have instruction on how to mix it up. Sports drinks can also help you to boost your energy when you suddenly find you've gone wobbly.

Good luck finding something that works for you; I know how tough it can be when you need to eat but your body won't let you . Hopefully these side effects will lessen for you soon; they did for me with the meds I'm on.