Carbohydrate craving and increased appetite associated with antidepressant therapy

The symptom of carbohydrate craving and increased appetite (CHH) was studied in 180 outpatients receiving antidepressant treatment. One hundred and fifty-eight of these patients had a DSM-III diagnosis of panic disorder and 17, major depression. The incidence of CHH was similar in both diagnostic groups. Thus, antidepressant treatment is associated with CHH in patients with diagnoses, other than depression. Desipramine was least likely to induce CHH compared to imipramine, amitriptyline and doxepin. Most patients who developed CHH on imipramine no longer experienced this side effect when switched to desipramine. CHH was not more frequent among women and not associated with antidepressant dosage or treatment response. Histamine H-1 receptor blockade may be an important factor in the etiology of CHH.