Home Care:

Emotional support, and in some cases counseling, are recommended.

If a medication is causing increased appetite and weight gain, your health care provider may decrease your dosage or recommend a different drug. Never stop taking your medication without first talking to your health care provider.

Call your health care provider if:

Contact your health care provider if:

• You have an unexplained, persistent increase in appetite
• You have other unexplained symptoms

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. During the physical exam, the health care provider will probably weigh you. You also may have a psychological evaluation.

The doctor will ask you questions about your medical history, with emphasis on your eating habits. Questions may include:

• Eating habits
  • Have you changed your eating habits?
  • Have you begun dieting?
  • Do you have concerns about your weight?
  • What do you eat in a typical day?
  • How much do you eat?
• Medication
  • What medications are you taking?
  • Are you taking any new medications, or have you changed the dose of your medications?
  • Do you use any illicit drugs? If so, which ones?
• Time pattern
  • Does the hunger occur during the sleep period?
  • Does the hunger seem to occur in a pattern related to your menstrual cycle?
• Other
  • What other symptoms are you having at the same time?
  • Have you noticed an increase in anxiety?
  • Do you frequently urinate?
  • Do you have an increased heart rate?
  • Do you have palpitations?
  • Do you feel more thirsty?
  • Have you had an unintentional weight gain?
  • Do you experience intentional or unintentional vomiting?

Tests that may be done include:

• Blood tests, including a chemistry profile
• Thyroid function tests