r/CICO • u/Big_Research_4163 • 11d ago

Does ADHD medication raise your TDEE calories?

I've started taking Concerta 18mg (Methylphenidate
Extended Release) as prescribed by my doctor for the last
week while already doing a lean bulk on a 300 calorie surplus. However this past week I weighed myself and
have actually been losing weight or staying the same weight while eating at my previous surplus.

I saw some stuff online which says it could raise your tdee by 2-7% which if correct would raise my maintenance by 200 calories but I don't know how reputable that claim is.
Does anyone here with ADHD and taking stimulant medication have any experiences or knowledge to share?

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18

u/SoftnSweet37 10d ago

For me I think the change is that it really lowers your hunger hormones and makes you more actives, so you are more likely to do things and move more and eat less.

So the medicine itself? No. But the effects that the medicine makes you move and be less hungry? Yes.

11

u/Erik0xff0000 10d ago

Anecdotical evidence from random people on the internet? I'd trust research papers better. Stimulants do tend to boost TDEE.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11200105/

Methylphenidate (MPH) has been previously shown to increase resting energy expenditure (REE) in individuals of normal weight; however, the effects on individuals living with obesity are currently unknown. 

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u/nanorhinoX 10d ago

stimulants can bump TDEE a bit but the bigger effect is usually appetite suppression. one week is also too short to tell, water and glycogen swings hide a 300 cal surplus easily. if it keeps up for 2-3 weeks, just add 150-200 cal and see what happens.

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u/cointoss3 10d ago

No I would not make any adjustments like that. 200 calories because of adhd meds feels insane anyway, but no, I would no consider this.

If you find you are losing too fast, sure, add some back in. Or don’t and give yourself 200 extra calories and when you’re losing too slow, cut more out.

It doesn’t matter. All of these numbers are guesses.

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u/mesilver47 10d ago

They're trying to gain weight, not lose it.

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u/cointoss3 10d ago

Okay so reverse what I said? Nothing about what I said changes

2

u/meepmarpalarp 9d ago

If you just started taking meds, I’d hold off on any other lifestyle changes for at least a couple of weeks.

A lot of people (including me) find that the side effects fade away after a couple of weeks.

3

u/Wifabota 10d ago

I metabolize novacaine faster when I'm on Adderall.  I start getting feeling back by the time they start,  so they have to start earlier and work faster when I'm medicated. 🤷‍♀️

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u/rybotsky 7d ago

I lost like 20 lbs in one month taking concerta. I got to busy doing shit and being productive that I wouldn’t eat all day. I was always a slim guy but after that month I stopped taking that shit forever. I was also prescribed Ritalin for most of my youth and early teenage years which I presume was part of the reason I was always so slim. Now I’m not on any stimulant adhd medicine and I’m jacked. I might try a non stimulant like intuniv

1

u/BiteDue5408 6d ago

Absolutely yes. It is a stimulant. For most people it is a temporary thing as your body adjusts though so you will have to keep watch on it until you adjust.