[costello]

My son's losing weight due to lack of appetite. His weight history is as follows:

1. Normal adult weight has been about 146 to 148 pounds. He's about 5'9" I think, so he's lean. He's 27, and up to a couple of years ago he pretty much maintained that weight with no effort.

2. In late 2010 he dropped to 116 during a severe psychotic episode. This happened over a period of a few months when he was living away from the family, so we didn't see him - just talked on the phone. He looked skeletal. We never really got a hold on why he lost so much weight. He gave a variety of reasons to various people - couldn't afford food, felt sick to stomach, fear of being poisoned, eating was "disgusting."

I took him to a doctor who found no physical reason for the weight loss.

3. Feb./Mar. 2011 he was hospitalized and put on a high dose of Zyprexa for his psychosis. He began gaining, eventually reaching 165 pounds.

4. His pdoc felt he was overmedicated and began lowering the dose. His weight dropped with the lowering of the dose.

5. He's been slipping under 140 over the last six months or so. He managed to force himself to eat enough to go a bit over 140, but after he started working fulltime two weeks ago he slipped to 137. He's trying to force himself to eat but has no appetite.

He'd like his weight to be a little higher, and I agree. Does anyone know of any natural ways to increase appetite?

[cybermember]

Sorry, costello, I don't have any suggestions other than slightly increasing his Zyprexa which would put some weight on.

As an aside, for me I noticed that the more medicated I am the less I have a desire for food, or anything for that matter. Antipsychotics affect dopamine which I believe affect the reward system. Since I'm back on Geodon I have zero desire to even drink a beer, let alone any alcohol to be honest. Most things now aren't nearly as satisfying as when I was unmedicated. But being unmedicated was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. Food was nearly an orgasmic experience. My senses were that extreme but I was also floridly psychotic as well as manic. And now here I am medicated and life is just eh, food included.

Perhaps your son should drink Boost Plus which is a supplemental drink which is meant for people who need to gain weight. It has 360 calories in it. I think my mother used to drink that to add some weight to her. She was 5'2" and weighed about 105 lbs.

Hope that helps.

[costello]

Thanks, cyber. That's interesting about not taking any pleasure in eating. It makes sense. I know the Zyprexa really increases his appetite at higher doses, but maybe he's at some kind of break even point?

Hopefully his weight will stablize soon. He just shouldn't lose much more.

[KUREHA]

I don't know I have a hard time putting on weight as well.

I don't have any advice except avoid caffiene close to meal times.

Watch the food network!!! It never fails. Even if you just ate, the food network will make you want more! I wish I had something further to contribute Costello, but this is all I know of. I am sorry to hear of his dropping weight. Usually, it seems anti-psychotics and mood stabilizers increase appetite. I hope you find what you are looking for Costello.

[ickydog2006]

(Things my friends have used) Protein shakes and other liquid calories (especially if drunk at night, although watch sugary drinks at night), Breads and pasta (using less white meat). Drinking whole milk when possible. Lots of cheese. Mexican food is yummy and usually high calorie. So is pizza.

[Gr3tta]

i agree with ickydog. if he needs to gain weight but has difficulty eating, he can try liquid calories like ensure, boost, milkshakes, and fruit smoothies. i would make sure they actually contain good nutrition though, not just fat or calories. if he doesn't get enough nutrients he could still have trouble maintaining weight, even if he's getting enough calories. if he's more of a "snacker" than a full meal eater, you can also keep protein and meal bars around. they are both calorie and nutrient dense, so you get a lot in a smaller package.