Depression can cause both increased and decreased appetite, potentially due to altered mood hormones in the brain. Antidepressant medication can also affect appetite and may cause serotonin syndrome if not monitored. Seeking medical help is important if symptoms persist or worsen.
Appetite and depression are connected, according to psychological experts. There are two potential appetite-related symptoms associated with depression: increased appetite and decreased appetite. Patients may feel one or both symptoms some of the time or all of the time. Doctors suggest the connection may have something to do with mood hormones released by the brain.
Decreased appetite can be a common symptom of depression. Appetite and depression may be related due to fatigue and loss of energy. As the body requires less energy, appetite may decrease because less food is needed to maintain normal body function. Another possible cause of the link between decreased appetite and depression may be altered production of mood chemicals by the brain.
Increased appetite is another potential symptom of depression. While there is no clinical information on why increased appetite and depression are related, some doctors associate it with the comforting feeling that food provides for some people. As described in the cases of food addiction in obesity, food can cause an increase in mood hormones for a short period of time after consumption.
Antidepressant prescription drugs are also associated with increased and decreased appetite. Many prescription drugs commonly given to patients with depression list decreased appetite as a possible side effect, along with nausea. When treating with prescription medication for depression, it’s important to tell your prescribing doctor if nausea is a regular symptom. Nausea is also a symptom of a serotonin disorder, which can be fatal. Patients just starting antidepressant treatment or those who have been prescribed more than one antidepressant are more likely to have serotonin syndrome.
Serotonin disorder or serotonin syndrome is usually associated with antidepressant medications. Serotonin is a hormone released by the brain that affects mood, and these hormone levels can be disrupted during episodes of depression. When too much serotonin is released, it can lead to agitation, nausea, and vomiting. Other common symptoms include fluctuating blood pressure, increased heart rate, and diarrhea. Treatment of the syndrome can help relieve symptoms in 24 to 48 hours, but if left untreated, the syndrome can lead to death.
It may be important for patients suffering from depression to seek help from a medical professional, especially if symptoms decrease or appetite increases. These symptoms may indicate an underlying condition that requires treatment. For example, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have been linked to altered levels of serotonin in the brain, changes in appetite, and depression.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
