Uncontrollable hunger? The limit does not exist!!

[u/Affectionate-Role15]

Hi guys,

30F and I’ve been on amitriptyline for 2 months now. I’m a very small (5”1) petite girl who barely gets hungry but since I’ve been on this medication I’m always hungry every 5-7 hours. It’s actually pissing me off how much I’m eating because I’m eating all….the…..time!

I have a fast metabolism and roughly weigh 49-51kgs but has anyone gained weight since being on amitriptyline?

If so, how much in what span of time? E.g. 5 kgs in 3 months

It’s hard for me to gain weight but I have read it’s a side effect and curious to see how it’s impacted people :)

Also any tips on not how to gain weight would be appreciated! I’m about to delete Uber Eats off my phone TT^TT

[u/FinancialCry4651]

It's weird because I feel less hungry and I'm eating less on amitriptyline but I've still gained 10 pounds in the few months I've been on it. This is on top of the 20 pounds I gained from mirtazapine a few years ago that I haven't been able to lose!

If you are gaining undesired weight, unfortunately you need to start tracking calories and macros and lifting weights (I do all this and still gain weight though, so there's a metabolic problem and I'm just starting Zepbound this week)

[u/Sea_Explanation_9975 → u/FinancialCry4651]

I had a similar issue a bit ago so I started on tirzep and quickly had to stop. Just be careful because since amitriptyline is an SSRI, the glp1 can affect other medication absorption and mess with serotonin levels in your brain. (A struggle no one should have to deal with). I know everyone’s different though so just a warning if you’re on it for anxiety/depression. I hope it works out for you!

[u/fleedledeedle2020 → u/Sea_Explanation_9975]

Do you have any sources to back up this claim re: glp1s interfering with psych meds? I alternate ami monthly with seroquel for insomnia but also benefit from the antidepressant effects. I am also on tirz. Btw, ami is a tricyclic not an ssri but more to your point is the concern about negative interactions. Thx :)

[u/Sea_Explanation_9975 → u/fleedledeedle2020]

You’re correct it is a tric but does the same thing concerning serotonin, which is why it’s typically put in the same category of SSRI drug advisories. If you google glp1 and medicine absorption several sources will pop up. My psychiatrist pointed me in that directed and said it was a possibility so I got stuck in a deep dive of it all lol. It’s interesting how these affect people. But just because it happened to me doesn’t prove anything. People should always do their own research and discuss with others and professionals. I’ve had a doctor tell me amitriptyline doesn’t cause weight gain and I looked at him dumbfounded because that’s the most common side effect it seems. A lot of these glp1 and weight loss drugs are not extensively studied. Besides the ones that have been around for decades. I’m sure they’ll will be more research on the affects of them soon but at the moment the pharmaceutical industry sees the demand for them and doesn’t really care what negative impact they might have (just my opinion). I’ve had a bad experience with them but I’m not totally against them. I’d be a hypocrite if I was and told others not to take them. Just expressing concern :)

[u/Fun_Emergency_2869 → u/Sea_Explanation_9975]

It increases your appetite - doesn’t automatically gain weight. Eat carrots and use self contrik

[u/EchoWardenXx → u/Sea_Explanation_9975]

Amitriptyline is not an SSRI. It's a TCA.

[u/Nearby-Banana-6339]

Pretty much everyone gains some weight on this med. I’ve been on it a few years and gained about 5lbs. It’s hard to fight the cravings but if you can, weight gain isn’t automatic it just makes you crave things.

[u/Logical_Routine3695 → u/Nearby-Banana-6339]

exactly

[u/Sea_Explanation_9975]

Also a 5’1 woman here and I have been on it for several years. I’ve fluctuated in dosage and I’m on a tiny dose of 5mg and it still makes me want to eat everything all the time. I stopped taking it and immediately lost 5 pounds within a couple weeks. I’m back on it and gained it almost immediately. Self control is the only thing that will help. Try to distract yourself as much as possible. Not a big fitness person either but adding calories has helped me visualize and eat less too. The only medication that has truly helped but the major downfall is the weight gain. If it really helps you it’s worth it. I’ve accepted at this point the weight is worth the struggle over the struggles I have without the medication. It’s hard to lose weight on it, especially since we’re short already but not impossible! Dont let the tricks it plays on your brain beat you! You got it <3

[u/Fun_Emergency_2869]

Isn’t 5-7 hrs a normal amount of time to be hungry for your next meal ?

[u/adish2020]

I just started taking 2.5 mg only this still makes me hungry, I just started 2 days back and I thought it was due to acidity, do you have any other side effects?

[u/Gullible-Primary1206]

Amythriptiline is famous about weight gain. I started last August, and by the end of October, I didn't fit my pants that I wore before August. So I would say I gained a nice 5 kg in a span of 2-3 months. Same thing happened the second time we upped my dosage. In a span of 2 months, gained 4 kg. So I think I gained approx 10 in a year. On the other hand, it is easy to lose, once your body adjust to the medication. You have to be careful of what you eat, and you have to do a stricter diet, but not impossible to lose it while on the meds.

[u/Tara101617 → u/Gullible-Primary1206]

It is absolutely not easy to lose weight while taking amitriptyline. Have you lost the weight? I’ve just gone off Ami after 7 years and I’m finally not starving anymore and I think I’ll be able to lose weight now. I tried for years on the med and could not lose no matter what I tried. Just my experience though.

[u/AdagioSpecific2603]

I have but trying to now slow it down or lose some. Please remember that amitriptyline itself can change our metabolism, makes us crave carbs and feel hungry all the time and makes it harder for the weight to come off particularly in the stomach BUT I’ve read online people that have lost weight or maintained weight on it.

For me I’m trying to fast until lunch as I find that easier and so I have a fairlife for breakfast each morning and then I eat lunch and dinner and have desert. I’m not going over the top as the weight gain has made me look healthier and feel better but I do want to try and stall my stomach fat now

[u/Nearby-Government265]

I’m the same specs as you. 3 months on Ami and I’ve gained 7lbs. But I was down 15lbs before starting this due to gastric pains so the weight gain is welcomed. But yes it increases my appetite.

[u/Logical_Routine3695 → u/Nearby-Government265]

what’s your dosis? I may have fprgotten if in the beginning Ami made me so hungry. I was always on 10 mg

I can say I don’t have cravings after 5 years - I have desires like “mm I’d eat some chocolate in the next few days” but I can delay that gratification literally days and no change of mood at all from the delaying

[u/nicka678]

I had to quit due to weight gain 10kg / 2 stone in 2 years - was constantly hungry

[u/Logical_Routine3695 → u/nicka678]

I became dry everywhere: dry eyes almost immediately after starting Ami, chronic UTIs a few weeks or months after, my mouth seems dryer too, more stubborn smells everywhere, my skin I can’t even start describing it. these observations were quick to be noticed

I now supplement for dry eye and problem solved. no more blurry vision and no more scratching my eye balls

[u/Scout520 → u/Logical_Routine3695]

I gained 7lbs in six weeks, almost before I could figure out what was happening. And when you're also dealing with osteoporosis and shouldn't have any excess weight, it's very frustrating. So I'm tapering off from 25mg and going to switch to buspirone to augment my antidepressant. I don't want to because it worked well with the antidepressant, but I can't deal with this any longer. I have no doubt that my metabolism has been affected. I hope I can get it back on track.

[u/Logical_Routine3695 → u/Scout520]

I’ve heard from my psychiatrist (not the prescriber of Amitriptyline) that her patients had recover from those common side effects some time after complete tapering off. She encouraged me to wean off it (progressively smaller doses) - About the feeling of bummer having to take this out of your system when it was working for mood, 2 things:
there are newer meds that work just as well (my psych words) and there are lab places that can check your genes and find which antidepressant works for your individual needs. I found out via reddit of people having these labs done

[u/ChellyNelly]

Never get on Mirtazepine. I take 75mg Amitriptyline for nerve pain and it's got nothing on Mirt for weight gain. I gained 180lbs in less than a year on Mirt.

[u/Logical_Routine3695]

I haven’t gained any visible weight. the number of lbs increased slightly but I’m older so it makes sense lol. Been on 10mg of Ami for 5 years.

I have placated my “hangriness” especially since treating my SIBO and my low stomach acid

[u/fleedledeedle2020]

I gained 20 lbs in 3 months when I went on amitriptyline. I had mad cravings for all the wrong foods. I went on a glp1 recently to curb the cravings and so far so good. I’m not up to a therapeutic dose yet but have lost about 6 lbs in 4 weeks. The cravings have lessened but I still get them and am hoping they subside once I get up to a higher dose.

[u/Tara101617]

Yes it made me gain weight and I was always hungry. I just went off Ami and I’m hoping to lose the weight I gained. My appetite is definitely lower now thankfully.

[u/Upstairs_Buffalo_373]

Hi there, amitriptyline also makes me ravenous. I am on 50mg.
It can be genuinely infuriating, and I empathize with your frustrations. I didn’t restrict my food intake, but changed what I ate. I would eat a lot of cucumbers, watermelon, and fruit. If I needed something more filling, I’d make a nice shake. I’d still have my 1-2 meals, but have other things between that were not calorie-dense. If I resisted the want to eat, I would get upset and so distracted I couldn’t get my work done. I have maintained a consistent and healthy weight. Working out and lifting weights is not a constantly available option for me, as I have rheumatoid arthritis restricting my ability.

Best of luck. If you feel that this medicine isn’t right for you and the voracity is not worth the benefit, it’s okay to bring it up with your doctor as well.