Birth control and loss of appetite?

[sillygoosegirl]

Does hormonal birth control ever have a side effect of loss of appetite? I've certainly had a serious loss of appetite lately, serious enough and severe enough to make me wonder if it is coming from chemical/hormonal problems. It's really hard to force myself eat more than one or two small meals per day, but it's really effecting my ability to

Comments

[paperclippy]

I've heard of increased appetite as a side effect, but never lost appetite. Check the packaging that came with your BC, there ought to be a long list of possible side effects. The other option that immediately occurs to me is that maybe you're coming down with a cold/flu or something like that which causes a loss of appetite. If all else fails check with your doctor.

[camlost]

The loss of appetite has been ongoing for a few months now, though.

[paperclippy]

Okay, then it's probably not a flu ;)

From the Ortho Evra website (you're on Ortho Evra or some generic for it, right?):

The following adverse reactions have been reported . . . Nausea . . . Change in weight (increase or decrease)

and on page 7:

In addition, change in appetite, nervousness, depression, dizziness, loss of scalp hair, rash, and vaginal infections may occur.

So yes, it could be due to the hormonal birth control. If it is to such an extent that it's interfering with your daily life, definitely see your doctor. OTOH, most side effects of BC go away after a while. As long as you get in enough calories per day to avoid malnutrition (you should eat at least 1200/day), you are probably fine though.

[lizzie]

I haven't personally experienced it, but women have different reactions to BC.

[camlost]

We should eat more dessert, obviously.

[elythia]

I actually just had to stop taking my birth control because of this. I've had bad reactions to it in the past.. I don't know what it is. I started it on a Thursday, and not even two days later I was deathly ill, couldn't eat anything, and actually so much as vomited four times in a row. I eventually had to stop taking it not even a week after I had started because it got that bad.

[anonymous]

Grr. I had huge issues with hormonal birth control (Ortho and Ortho Lo). Among other things, it made me lose my appetite, but gain weight anyway (?!). I quit taking it for that and numerous other reasons (mostly mood-related).

[ywalme]

Whoops. That was me. I forgot to keep myself logged in. *facepalm*