A mood neurotransmitter, serotonin is linked to a person's emotions and is also used by the brain to function. When there is an imbalance of serotonin in the brain, it can cause serious medical problems. If the brain has less than normal levels of...
Anorexia, an eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and obsession with weight loss, is often treated through psychological counseling, behavioral therapy, medical treatment and/or medications. Though there are no antidepressants...
Many people struggle with weight gain caused by medications. In many cases, people do not realize that the sudden increase in their waistline can be associated with their new medications. Patients who do suspect that their medications are causing...
Loss of appetite can occur for many reasons, including sickness and depression. When this happens, it is often difficult to get the patient to eat, making them deficient in basic nutrients they need to survive. Often, the solution is to...
Antihistamines are medications that can treat the symptoms of hay fever and other allergies, according to the MayoClinic.com website. Their mechanism of action involves blocking the action of histamine, which is a substance produced by the body's...
An occasional loss of appetite is normal and usually not a concern. When appetite loss is prolonged or accompanied with weight loss, a visit to the doctor is warranted. Causes of reduced appetite include some illnesses, certain medications,...
Many medications can lead to unwanted weight gain. The National Institutes of Health states that corticosteroids, cyproheptadine, lithium, tranquilizers, phenothiazines and some antidepressants can cause weight gain. Drugs may increase appetite,...
Celapram is an antidepressant medication belonging to a class called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. The active ingredient in Celapram is citelopram, and in the U.S., the medication is sold under the trade names Celexa and...
Despite your best efforts, you are finding it impossible to lose weight. Many lifestyle, physical and emotional factors can affect your ability to lose weight, but if you suspect a medical condition is causing you to gain or retain weight, consult...
Weight loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy. According to the American Cancer Society, weight loss after treatment is caused by several factors including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite and dehydration. Eating well and...
Loss of appetite can result from diseases, including some types of cancer, physical or emotional stress, and medications and therapies used to treat illnesses. The resulting decrease in food intake often leads to severe weight loss and...
Periactin is a brand name version of the prescription drug cyproheptadine. This drug is usually used to treat the symptoms of allergic reactions and seasonal allergies. It is also used as an appetite stimulant to help adults and children gain...
Histamine is a naturally-occurring organic compound, and is found in humans and animals. It can be found in cells throughout the body, the digestive tract, and in the brain acting as a neurotransmitter. Typically, histamine is known as the agent...
Cortisol is a glucocorticoid, or a corticosteroid hormone, produced by the adrenal glands in response to the production of adrenocortiotropic hormone (ACTH) in the pituitary gland. Cortisol is essential for the regulation of many physiological...
If you are trying to lose weight, a high-fiber diet may be helpful. The fiber helps to fill you up and slows down digestion so you stay full longer. It can also lower your risk for diabetes and heart disease. Sometimes, however, you may gain...
Rashes and hives are often external symptoms of your body fighting off an invader, irritant or allergen. While we often think that these symptoms can only occur due to exposure to something physical, like dust or poison ivy, the truth is that...
Ciplactin, the brand name for cyproheptadine hydrochloride, is a prescription medication indicated to alleviate symptoms associated with nasal allergies and the common cold. In the United States, this medication is marketed under the brand name...
Delayed ejaculation, which is the persistent difficulty in ejaculating during sexual intercourse, is a highly treatable condition. In fact, the National Institutes of Health notes that the average success rate of outpatient treatment is...
Rapid weight gain can be unnerving, particularly if you're conscious and proactive about maintaining a healthy weight. Sudden weight gain has a variety of causes, and effective treatment depends on remedying the specific cause. Lifestyle changes...
If you suffer from depression or anxiety, you may choose to use L-tryptophan as a treatment, an amino acid that occurs naturally in food, and as a supplement. While L-tryptophan may improve your symptoms, it has serious side effects. One such side...
Abnormally high levels of serotonin, a chemical that acts as a neurotransmitter, can cause serotonin syndrome. While supplementing your serotonin levels can decrease symptoms of depression, too much can be fatal. Serotonin syndrome can develop in...
When dieting for weight loss, it is common to restrict overall food and calorie intake, and perhaps to limit or exclude certain foods such as candy or butter. Dieters may experience an increase in sensations of hunger or cravings for a particular...
Cancer is an aggressive, unforgiving disease. Modern treatments for cancer have to be equally aggressive. Chemotherapy drugs are one of the most common treatments for cancer, but they are not without side effects. Patients often experience weight...
Many people think that migraines are simply bad headaches. This isn't the case, because a variety of unique symptoms distinguish a true migraine from a merely irritating headache. Auras, which often accompany migraines, lead to visual...
Migraines are more than just bad headaches. They are a chronic and severe condition characterized by debilitating pain, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound, visual disturbances, and a host of other neurological abnormalities. Sufferers...
Millions of people suffer from migraine headaches every day. Most of them will tell you that when in the throes of a migraine, they will go to any lengths to make it stop. The trademark debilitating pain that accompanies these headaches can...
The supplement 5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, is an alternative treatment used for several conditions, include fibromyalgia and depression. Manufacturers obtain 5-HTP from the seeds of the Griffonia simplicifolia plant. While 5-HTP may help reduce...
The weight loss industry is primarily targeted at women, and with good reason. As if it weren't enough that women have tremendous social pressure to be thin -- from friends and family member as well as the media -- their bodies are also less...
Migraine pain is intense and can greatly interfere with daily activities. Although there are many treatments available that can help relieve migraine pain, each treatment varies in the way it works and in the symptoms it treats. Therefore, it is...
