There is no information as to whether she is psychotic or if she has dementia. Also important is to know if she is diabetic, overweight or underweight.
"Medications that can cause an increase in appetite include mood stabilizing medications (e.g. lithium and divalproex) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) (e.g. olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, aripiprazole)."
Others that come to mind are insulin and steroids. My very elderly Aunt with mod/adv dementia went through a phase where she ate like a horse and gained 13 pounds. We think she was just forgeting that she just ate, and that dementia screws up one's ability to interpret the body's signals for normal things like appetite, pain, emotions, etc. We just made sure she was eating healthing foods.
Eventually my Aunt stopped over-eating without us doing anything (she is mostly immobile without help so couldn't go to the fridge herself but just kept requesting food). Now she is back to eating what was "normal" for her prior.
Sometimes people with dementia develop compulsions and eating can be one of them.
Go to the search 🔍 and enter the words… eats all the time. I did that and many threads appeared. It is a common problem. Here are some things to consider.
1. Medications One woman said her fathers medications were driving him to eat. She suggested going to a geriatrician if the current doctor won’t help you and to figure out which meds are affecting his appetite.
2. Depression/anxiety See if the doctor will evaluate and treat to smooth out moods and help with anxiety.
3. Activity Checkout Adult day care to keep mom busy and hopefully sleep better at night
4. Find a Nutritionist/dietician to guide you on better food choices and To increase protein, reduce sugar and processed foods which also can lead to an increase in appetite.
source: https://keltymentalhealth.ca/medication-and-appetite
Others that come to mind are insulin and steroids. My very elderly Aunt with mod/adv dementia went through a phase where she ate like a horse and gained 13 pounds. We think she was just forgeting that she just ate, and that dementia screws up one's ability to interpret the body's signals for normal things like appetite, pain, emotions, etc. We just made sure she was eating healthing foods.
Eventually my Aunt stopped over-eating without us doing anything (she is mostly immobile without help so couldn't go to the fridge herself but just kept requesting food). Now she is back to eating what was "normal" for her prior.
Sometimes people with dementia develop compulsions and eating can be one of them.
Welcome to the Forum
Go to the search 🔍 and enter the words… eats all the time. I did that and many threads appeared. It is a common problem. Here are some things to consider.
1. Medications
One woman said her fathers medications were driving him to eat. She suggested going to a geriatrician if the current doctor won’t help you and to figure out which meds are affecting his appetite.
2. Depression/anxiety
See if the doctor will evaluate and treat to smooth out moods and help with anxiety.
3. Activity
Checkout Adult day care to keep mom busy and hopefully sleep better at night
4. Find a Nutritionist/dietician to guide you on better food choices and
To increase protein, reduce sugar and processed foods which also can lead to an increase in appetite.
Here is the link.
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/how-can-i-get-my-elderly-father-to-stop-eating-everything-his-doctor-isn-t-helping-me-133251.htm