APPETITE STIMULANTS & SUPPRESSANTS
APPETITE STIMULANTS
• May help promote appetite and weight gain in elderly with unintentional weight loss or
poor P.O. intake .
• Drugs should not be considered as first-line treatment .
• Even if successful in inducing weight gain, long-term effects on quality of life are
unknown
• The following appetite stimulants
Dronabionol (Marinol)
Mirtazapine (Remeron)
Megestrol Acetate (Megace)
Metoclopramide (Reglan)
Cyproheptadine (Periactin)
Anabolic Steroids (Oxandrolone; Oxandrin)
Ghrelin
Recombinant Human Growth Hormone (Serostim)
Testosterone
Dronabinol
• A tetrahydrocannabinol
• Use: Weight gain in cancer related anorexia patients
• Side Effects: Lightheadedness, Sleepiness , Blurred vision, Can’t think clearly, Dizziness,
Sedation, Fatigue, Hallucinations.
Mirtazapine
• A serotonergic norepinephrine uptake inhibitor used to treat depression in older adults
• Use: Appetite stimulant for cachexia and treats underlying depression in older adults
• Side Effects: Sedation , Dry mouth, Constipation, Fatigue, Weight gain, Dizziness,Other
studies show causes hepatotoxicity, bone marrow suppression, restless legs syndrome,
arthralgia
Karthika D P
M.Pharm Pharmacology
APPETITE STIMULANTS
• May help promote appetite and weight gain in elderly with unintentional weight loss or
poor P.O. intake .
• Drugs should not be considered as first-line treatment .
• Even if successful in inducing weight gain, long-term effects on quality of life are
unknown
• The following appetite stimulants
Dronabionol (Marinol)
Mirtazapine (Remeron)
Megestrol Acetate (Megace)
Metoclopramide (Reglan)
Cyproheptadine (Periactin)
Anabolic Steroids (Oxandrolone; Oxandrin)
Ghrelin
Recombinant Human Growth Hormone (Serostim)
Testosterone
Dronabinol
• A tetrahydrocannabinol
• Use: Weight gain in cancer related anorexia patients
• Side Effects: Lightheadedness, Sleepiness , Blurred vision, Can’t think clearly, Dizziness,
Sedation, Fatigue, Hallucinations.
Mirtazapine
• A serotonergic norepinephrine uptake inhibitor used to treat depression in older adults
• Use: Appetite stimulant for cachexia and treats underlying depression in older adults
• Side Effects: Sedation , Dry mouth, Constipation, Fatigue, Weight gain, Dizziness,Other
studies show causes hepatotoxicity, bone marrow suppression, restless legs syndrome,
arthralgia
Karthika D P
M.Pharm Pharmacology
