Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSide Effects of ADHD MedicationChildren and AppetiteAdults and Weight LossWhen to Seek HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Side Effects of ADHD Medication
Children and Appetite
Adults and Weight Loss
When to Seek Help
Frequently Asked Questions
ADHD can manifest differently in children than in adults, with children more likely to experience hyperactive symptoms. Despite this, both adults and children with ADHD tend to respond well to the sameclasses of medication. First-line treatment typically involves the psychostimulants Ritalin or Concerta (methylphenidate) or Adderall (dextroamphetamine-amphetamine).
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
Ritalin is the most commonly used drug prescribed for ADHD globally and has been in use for more than 50 years.
While stimulants such as these have been shown to be effective at treating ADHD, they can have side effects, including a loss of appetite. This article will discuss the effects of ADHD medications on appetite and weight.
Side effects of stimulant medication used to treat ADHD in children can include:
Side effects are similar in adults and generally not severe.
Weight-Related Side Effects
Reduced appetite, which sometimes leads to unintentional weight loss, is a common side effect of stimulants in children. Some studies show this can cause a delay in growth in some children. This delay typically occurs within the first two years of taking stimulants, and most children catch up over time.
A 2014 study found that initially,body mass index(BMI) growth in early childhood was slower in children taking stimulants than in those who were not, but a rebound occurred in adolescence. In later adolescence, children who took stimulants for ADHD had a higher BMI than those who had no history of ADHD or stimulant use.
While long-term impacts on growth are unlikely, it’s a good idea to measure the height and weight of children taking ADHD medication every six months in order to monitor growth.
Children With ADHD and Appetite
Appetite suppression is a common side effect of stimulants in children. One study showed that children taking methylphenidate-ER (METH-ER) for approximately 28 months consumed an average of 294 fewer calories per day than children in the control group.
Stimulants can give children the feeling of being full. They can also increase their metabolic rate, which burns more calories.
How appetite is affected can depend on the dosage of the medication and how often the child takes it. Many children taking medication for ADHD experience only a mild or temporary loss of appetite.
Some children with ADHD have deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals, such as zinc and iron, and a lower intake of vitamins.This may be due to the changes in appetite from ADHD medications.
If your child is taking ADHD medication, it may be worthwhile to ask your healthcare provider to check their vitamin and mineral levels.
Adults With ADHD and Weight Loss
Stimulants can also cause reduced appetite and weight loss in adults, but this is less common than in children.
If you do find your appetite is affected and you are unintentionally losing weight, check in with your healthcare provider.
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How to Gain Weight on ADHD Medication
Some ways to counteract the appetite changes from stimulants include:
For adults with ADHD, meal planning and cooking can be stressful and lead to reaching for convenience food over nutritious food. The organization Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) offers a cookbook, which isavailable online, with healthy recipes geared toward people with ADHD.
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When to See a Healthcare Provider
A weight loss of 5 to 10 pounds, or 10% of body weight, over the course of a few weeks to a month is a reason to check in with your child’s healthcare provider.
Even if weight loss isn’t significant, if the loss of appetite persists after they have been on the medication for a few weeks, or you have concerns about your child’s nutrition or growth, see your healthcare provider.
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Summary
Decreased appetite and weight loss are common side effects of the stimulants used to treat ADHD, especially for children.
These effects are usually temporary and manageable with measures such as timing medications around meals and offering healthy foods when your child is hungry. If the decrease in appetite and/or weight loss are persistent or causing concern, see your healthcare provider.
A Word From Verywell
If you or your child are taking medication for ADHD, it’s a good idea to monitor for decreased appetite and unintended weight loss. While these tend to be minor and temporary, they can lead to problems if too much weight is lost or there are nutrition deficits.
See your healthcare provider if you have concerns about how ADHD medication is affecting you or your child’s eating habits.
Frequently Asked QuestionsADHD can change eating habits in several ways. ADHD symptoms can make meal planning and cooking difficult, leading to less nutritious food choices.ADHD medications can cause decreased appetite, especially in children.ADHD itself is not typically associated with weight loss, but the stimulant medications that are often prescribed to treat ADHD can cause a decrease in appetite that may lead tounintentional weight loss.When at the right dosage, ADHD shouldn’t change personality. Starting at the lowest dose and gradually increasing as needed can help achieve this. If you notice changes in emotion or affect, discuss the possibility of a dose adjustment with your healthcare provider.
ADHD can change eating habits in several ways. ADHD symptoms can make meal planning and cooking difficult, leading to less nutritious food choices.ADHD medications can cause decreased appetite, especially in children.
ADHD can change eating habits in several ways. ADHD symptoms can make meal planning and cooking difficult, leading to less nutritious food choices.
ADHD medications can cause decreased appetite, especially in children.
ADHD itself is not typically associated with weight loss, but the stimulant medications that are often prescribed to treat ADHD can cause a decrease in appetite that may lead tounintentional weight loss.
When at the right dosage, ADHD shouldn’t change personality. Starting at the lowest dose and gradually increasing as needed can help achieve this. If you notice changes in emotion or affect, discuss the possibility of a dose adjustment with your healthcare provider.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Young JL, Goodman DW.Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis, management, and treatment in the DSM-5 era.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2016;18(6). doi:10.4088/PCC.16r02000Storebø OJ, Pedersen N, Ramstad E, et al.Methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Adhd) in children and adolescents – assessment of adverse events in non‐randomised studies.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;5(5). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012069.pub2Wolraich ML, Hagan JF Jr, Allan C, et al.Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents.Pediatrics. 2019;144(4):e20192528.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Medication management.Child Mind Institute.What we need to know about the long-term effects of ADHD medications.Schwartz BS, Bailey-Davis L, Bandeen-Roche K, et al.Attention deficit disorder, stimulant use, and childhood body mass index trajectory.Pediatrics. 2014;133(4):668-676. doi:10.1542/peds.2013-3427American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and American Psychiatric Association.ADHD parents medication guide.Villagomez A, Ramtekkar U.Iron, magnesium, vitamin d, and zinc deficiencies in children presenting with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Children (Basel). 2014;1(3):261-279. doi:10.3390/children1030261Landaas ET, Aarsland TI, Ulvik A, Halmøy A, Ueland PM, Haavik J.Vitamin levels in adults with ADHD.BJPsych Open. 2016;2(6):377-384. doi:10.1192/bjpo.bp.116.003491Understood.ADHD medication side effects.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Cookbook for busy minds.Child Mind Institute.Will ADHD medication change my child’s brain?
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Young JL, Goodman DW.Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis, management, and treatment in the DSM-5 era.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2016;18(6). doi:10.4088/PCC.16r02000Storebø OJ, Pedersen N, Ramstad E, et al.Methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Adhd) in children and adolescents – assessment of adverse events in non‐randomised studies.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;5(5). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012069.pub2Wolraich ML, Hagan JF Jr, Allan C, et al.Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents.Pediatrics. 2019;144(4):e20192528.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Medication management.Child Mind Institute.What we need to know about the long-term effects of ADHD medications.Schwartz BS, Bailey-Davis L, Bandeen-Roche K, et al.Attention deficit disorder, stimulant use, and childhood body mass index trajectory.Pediatrics. 2014;133(4):668-676. doi:10.1542/peds.2013-3427American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and American Psychiatric Association.ADHD parents medication guide.Villagomez A, Ramtekkar U.Iron, magnesium, vitamin d, and zinc deficiencies in children presenting with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Children (Basel). 2014;1(3):261-279. doi:10.3390/children1030261Landaas ET, Aarsland TI, Ulvik A, Halmøy A, Ueland PM, Haavik J.Vitamin levels in adults with ADHD.BJPsych Open. 2016;2(6):377-384. doi:10.1192/bjpo.bp.116.003491Understood.ADHD medication side effects.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Cookbook for busy minds.Child Mind Institute.Will ADHD medication change my child’s brain?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Young JL, Goodman DW.Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis, management, and treatment in the DSM-5 era.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2016;18(6). doi:10.4088/PCC.16r02000Storebø OJ, Pedersen N, Ramstad E, et al.Methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Adhd) in children and adolescents – assessment of adverse events in non‐randomised studies.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;5(5). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012069.pub2Wolraich ML, Hagan JF Jr, Allan C, et al.Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents.Pediatrics. 2019;144(4):e20192528.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Medication management.Child Mind Institute.What we need to know about the long-term effects of ADHD medications.Schwartz BS, Bailey-Davis L, Bandeen-Roche K, et al.Attention deficit disorder, stimulant use, and childhood body mass index trajectory.Pediatrics. 2014;133(4):668-676. doi:10.1542/peds.2013-3427American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and American Psychiatric Association.ADHD parents medication guide.Villagomez A, Ramtekkar U.Iron, magnesium, vitamin d, and zinc deficiencies in children presenting with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Children (Basel). 2014;1(3):261-279. doi:10.3390/children1030261Landaas ET, Aarsland TI, Ulvik A, Halmøy A, Ueland PM, Haavik J.Vitamin levels in adults with ADHD.BJPsych Open. 2016;2(6):377-384. doi:10.1192/bjpo.bp.116.003491Understood.ADHD medication side effects.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Cookbook for busy minds.Child Mind Institute.Will ADHD medication change my child’s brain?
Young JL, Goodman DW.Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis, management, and treatment in the DSM-5 era.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2016;18(6). doi:10.4088/PCC.16r02000
Storebø OJ, Pedersen N, Ramstad E, et al.Methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Adhd) in children and adolescents – assessment of adverse events in non‐randomised studies.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;5(5). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012069.pub2
Wolraich ML, Hagan JF Jr, Allan C, et al.Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents.Pediatrics. 2019;144(4):e20192528.
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Medication management.
Child Mind Institute.What we need to know about the long-term effects of ADHD medications.
Schwartz BS, Bailey-Davis L, Bandeen-Roche K, et al.Attention deficit disorder, stimulant use, and childhood body mass index trajectory.Pediatrics. 2014;133(4):668-676. doi:10.1542/peds.2013-3427
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and American Psychiatric Association.ADHD parents medication guide.
Villagomez A, Ramtekkar U.Iron, magnesium, vitamin d, and zinc deficiencies in children presenting with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Children (Basel). 2014;1(3):261-279. doi:10.3390/children1030261
Landaas ET, Aarsland TI, Ulvik A, Halmøy A, Ueland PM, Haavik J.Vitamin levels in adults with ADHD.BJPsych Open. 2016;2(6):377-384. doi:10.1192/bjpo.bp.116.003491
Understood.ADHD medication side effects.
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Cookbook for busy minds.
Child Mind Institute.Will ADHD medication change my child’s brain?
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