An appetite stimulant, also known as an orexigenic, is a substance that increases hunger or the desire to eat. Their goal is to encourage increased food intake, particularly when natural appetite is diminished. This is important for maintaining proper nutrition and preventing unintended weight loss. These stimulants can be medications, supplements, or lifestyle adjustments.
Understanding Why Appetite Stimulants Are Used
Appetite stimulants are often used when a person’s ability or desire to eat is significantly reduced, leading to malnutrition or substantial weight loss. This occurs in chronic illnesses like cancer or AIDS, where disease or treatment side effects, such as chemotherapy-induced nausea, suppress appetite. Older adults also experience decreased appetite due to age-related changes, multiple medications, or conditions like dementia or depression. Cachexia, a condition causing extreme muscle and fat wasting, also necessitates appetite stimulation. Additionally, some medications can inadvertently reduce appetite, making stimulants a consideration.
Different Kinds of Appetite Stimulants
Various types of appetite stimulants are available, including prescription medications, over-the-counter options, and natural approaches. Prescription medications include megestrol acetate and dronabinol, FDA-approved for conditions like AIDS-related anorexia and cachexia. Megestrol acetate, a synthetic progestin, was used as an appetite stimulant after its weight gain side effect was noted. Dronabinol is a cannabinoid medication that also helps reduce nausea.
Other prescription drugs sometimes used off-label include mirtazapine, an antidepressant, and cyproheptadine, an antihistamine. Corticosteroids like prednisone and dexamethasone may also increase appetite, though their long-term use has side effects. Over-the-counter options often involve vitamins or minerals, such as B vitamins and zinc, especially if a deficiency contributes to appetite loss.
Natural and dietary approaches include consuming smaller, more frequent meals or incorporating appealing and varied foods. Some essential oils like cinnamon, black pepper, and clove are being studied for appetite stimulation; oral consumption should be discussed with a healthcare professional. Bitter herbs such as gentian and wormwood are also suggested to improve digestion and appetite.
How Appetite Stimulants Work
Appetite stimulants function through various biological mechanisms to enhance the desire to eat. Many act on the brain’s appetite control centers, particularly the hypothalamus, which integrates hunger and satiety signals. Some medications, like certain antihistamines, block histamine H1 or serotonin 5-HT2C receptors, increasing food intake.
Hormones also play a significant role in appetite regulation. Ghrelin, a hormone produced in the stomach, is a natural appetite stimulant that signals hunger to the brain. Some stimulants may mimic or enhance ghrelin’s effects. Medications like megestrol acetate are thought to increase appetite by influencing neuropeptide Y (NPY), a powerful appetite-stimulating peptide, and by reducing inflammation.
Appetite stimulants can also work by reducing factors that suppress appetite, such as nausea or inflammatory responses. For example, dronabinol helps decrease nausea, making eating more tolerable. These substances help restore the body’s natural hunger cues and encourage greater food consumption.
Important Things to Know
Consulting a healthcare professional before starting any appetite stimulant is important. This ensures the underlying cause of appetite loss is identified and the treatment is appropriate and safe. Appetite stimulants are not a substitute for addressing the root medical issue, but rather a supportive measure.
Potential side effects vary by stimulant but may include drowsiness, mood changes, stomach upset, and weight gain. Megestrol acetate can cause fluid retention and blood clots. Dronabinol may lead to dizziness or paranoia. Older adults may need to avoid certain stimulants like megestrol and cyproheptadine due to potential adverse effects.
It is also important to be aware of possible drug interactions. Appetite stimulants can interact with other medications, including antidepressants, and may worsen existing health conditions like high blood pressure. Providing a complete list of all medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements, to a doctor or pharmacist helps minimize adverse interactions.