I am 26 and 5'9". I have always been sort of on the slender side (since reaching my adult height, I've been mainly in the 130 - 140 range and for someone my height, there's no visible difference between 130 and 140). Since starting ADD meds, I have lost a lot of weight.

FYI: I never paid attention to my weight before, I have never dieted or had weight issues, and I didn't even own a bathroom scale. I have a healthy appetite and I eat a well-balanced diet--not so much because of health reasons and not because of weight consciousness, but because I generally eat local, whole foods for environmental and ethical reasons. I do not shy away from one nutrient (fats, starches, whatever) or load up on another. I just don't really see food that way. My husband and I are mostly vegetarian just because it's simpler and cheaper--we do eat meat occasionally and we do also eat butter, milk and full-fat ice cream!

Even so, since starting ADD meds, my weight dropped to about 115 (officially underweight for someone my height). It's not pretty. I don't feel like I look different, but I do. I notice when I take a good look at myself in the mirror that I look gaunt and bony. My friends and family have made comments. I discussed my concerns with my psychiatrist and he's been monitoring my weight ever since. He switched me from Adderall to Concerta because he wanted to be able to increase my dosage, but didn't want the Adderall to make me lose any more weight. Well, I've been on Concerta for a couple of weeks now, and yesterday at my doctor's appointment (GP, not psych) I weighed 106! That's insane.

I don't want to stop taking meds right now, since I just started medical treatment for ADD and I've been really happy with the results apart from this particular side effect. Are there ADD meds that work and don't cause crazy weight changes? What can I do to increase my caloric intake without eating a lot of unhealthy, processed food or eating when I'm not hungry? Has anyone had an experience like mine?

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