Polyphagia | Define Polyphagia at Dictionary.com polyphagia [pol-ee-fey-jee-uh, -juh] /ˌpɒl iˈfeɪ dʒi ə, -dʒə/ Spell Pathology. excessive desire to eat. 2. Zoology. the habit of subsisting on many different kinds of food. Origin of polyphagia 1685-95; < New Latin < Greek polyphagía; see poly- , -phagy Related forms [puh-lif-uh-jist] /pəˈlɪf ə dʒɪst/ (Show IPA), noun polyphagous [puh-lif-uh-guh s] /pəˈlɪf ə gəs/ (Show IPA), polyphagic [pol-ee-faj-ik, -fey-jik] /ˌpɒl iˈfædʒ ɪk, -ˈfeɪ dʒɪk/ (Show IPA), adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for polyphagia Expand British Dictionary definitions for polyphagia Expand noun 1.

an abnormal desire to consume excessive amounts of food, esp as the result of a neurological disorder an insatiable appetite 2. the habit of certain animals, esp certain insects, of feeding on many different types of food Derived Forms C17: New Latin, from Greek, from poluphagos eating much; see poly-, -phagy Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for polyphagia Expand n. 1690s, "eating to excess," medical Latin, from Greek polyphagia "excess in eating," from polyphagos "eating to excess," from polys "much" (see poly- ) + phagein "to eat" (see -phagous ). Attested from 1890 in sense "feeding on various kinds of food." Nativized as polyphagy.

Related: Polyphagic; polyphagous. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Polyphagia Explained: Excessive Hunger, Causes, and Concerns Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***. Polyphagia: Overview Have you ever had excessive hunger that doesn’t go away, regardless of how recently, or how much, you have eaten? This is referred to as polyphagia. Although it’s normally associated with diabetes, polyphagia actually has a few different possible causes, some of which are more persistent than others. Broadly speaking, there are two main ways that polyphagia can be caused. The first is when a biological or physical factor causes the body to either need more or not receive enough nutrients. In these cases, the abnormally large appetite is because the body is trying to acquire more fuel. The second type is when the body doesn’t or can’t receive the necessary signals to tell it that it’s full. These are more persistent hormone or genetic-related disorders. Ad Causes of Polyphagia Polyphagia has a mix of physical, neurological, and mental causes that all present themselves differently.

Since polyphagia is just one symptom, it is usually accompanied by other elements, depending on the underlying cause. While a doctor’s examination is always the best way to diagnose the cause of polyphagia, paying attention to any other symptoms that appear alongside it can help narrow things down: Prader-Willi syndrome: This is a genetic disorder with a frequency of somewhere between one in 25,000 and one in 10,000 live births. The syndrome’s signature symptom is persistent polyphagia that tends to manifest around age two. Prader-Willi is actually the leading cause of morbid obesity in children . The syndrome has several physical symptoms as a result of the genetic defects. These include distinct facial features, such as almond-shaped eyes and a narrow temple, motor and speech development disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and underdeveloped sexual organs. Klein-Levin syndrome: This is another rare genetic disorder that mainly affects adolescent males. The symptoms tend to come in waves, lasting for days to weeks before dissipating for months at a time. Klein-Levin’s signature symptom is the need for excessive sleep, sometimes up to 20 hours per day.

While awake, behavioral changes can occur, such as polyphagia, irritability, lethargy, and a distinct lack of emotional responses (apathy). People with the disorder can become disoriented and hallucinations are not unheard of. Hyperthyroidism: When the thyroid gland becomes overactive it will significantly accelerate your body’s metabolism. This creates numerous symptoms, including polyphagia. Rapid heartbeat, hand tremors , increased sweating, brittle hair, irritability, and the appearance of a goiter (enlarged thyroid) on the neck are all additional signs that can present with hyperthyroidism. Anxiety, depression, or stress: All three of these are capable of causing forms of polyphagia either as a psychological coping mechanism or as a result of hormone disruptions, depending on the underlying cause. Hypoglycemia: Polyphagia is a common symptom when the body’s blood sugar levels drop dangerously low. The cause of the drop can be attributed to not eating for a long period of time, hormone disorders, or major organ diseases. But the signs of hypoglycemia remain relatively constant.

In addition to polyphagia, hypoglycemia causes headaches, irritability, confusion, dizziness, sweating, and pale skin. It can lead to unconsciousness, coma, loss of coordination, and numbness in the mouth and tongue. Pregnancy: The nutritional demands of the fetus and hormone adjustments of pregnancy can cause the mother to experience polyphagia. Incidentally, polyphagia is also a reported symptom of PMS for similar hormonal reasons. Metabolism: Everyone has a different metabolism level and experiences hunger at different levels throughout the day. High periods of physical activity can cause a short period of polyphagia. Polyphagia and Diabetes As mentioned above, hypoglycemia is a possible cause of polyphagia. With diabetes, the body is unable to properly process sugar as a result of either having too little insulin or actually developing a resistance to insulin . The inability to convert food into energy leaves the cells perpetually starved, resulting in hypoglycemia that causes polyphagia. Diabetes is one of the most common causes of polyphagia but, as you have seen, it is not the only one.

Polyphagia is one of three cardinal signs for type-1 diabetes. The other two are polydipsia (excess thirst) and polyuria (excess urination). Polyuria The kidneys filter blood to produce urine. When there is excessive sugar in the blood, this translates to excess sugar in the urine. The sugar then draws in water from the surroundings to further increase the volume of urine. Since the amount we drink each day naturally affects our urine output, it takes the frequent passage of three or more litres per day to count as polyuria. Polyuria has many other possible causes instead of just diabetes. Certain urinary tract or kidney infections can cause excessive urination, as can hyperthyroidism, vitamin D toxicity, or certain cardiac problems. The mechanism by which excess sugar causes polyuria—called osmotic diuresis—can also occur with other substances, such as urea, a compound used in certain food and medical products. Polydipsia The excess thirst of polydipsia, like the hunger associated with polyphagia, is not usually abated by drinking. In cases of diabetes, the increased thirst is linked to the heightened water loss caused by polyuria.

Although type 1 diabetics can present without polyphagia, polydipsia and polyuria usually appear together. Since the body uses water for numerous other purposes, there are additional possibilities that can cause polydipsia. Anything that causes a loss of blood volume, such as major bleeding, can create a state of excess thirst as the body tries to replenish its fluids. Zinc deficiency is another possible cause as well. Polydipsia is also known to present in certain cases of schizophrenia. All three signs—polyphagia, polyuria, and polydipsia—can also occur as a side effect of several medications. If you experience any of the three while on a medicine, talk to your doctor about it being a possible cause. Treating Polyphagia Addressing polyphagia first requires that the underlying cause is properly identified. Once that happens, additional steps can be taken. In some cases, like from metabolism or pregnancy, little action is needed other than to keep yourself fed and wait for it to pass. For genetic disorders or hyperthyroidism, hormone (or anti-hormone) medications are used to help alleviate the symptoms.

In extreme cases of hyperthyroidism, surgery may be needed to excise part of the thyroid. Diabetes treatment requires a combination of diet adjustments, blood sugar monitoring, and taking your insulin regularly. Sources for Today’s Article: “Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid),” Mayo Clinic web site, November 20, 2012; . “When Your Blood Sugar Gets Too Low,” WebMD web site; , last accessed August 24, 2015. “Kleine-Levin Syndrome,” WebMD web site; , last accessed August 24, 2015. “Polyuria – Frequent Urination Symptoms and Causes,” Diabetes.co.uk; , last accessed August 24, 2015. “Prader-Willi Syndrome,” Mayo Clinic web site, April 17, 2014; . Advertisement Polyphagia – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment Polyphagia – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment Polyphagia Treatment Food is one of the basic needs of a human being in order to live in this world. In fact many people may not live longer in the absence of food.

It is sad to note that there are other places like those underdeveloped countries that are lacking in the supply of food. That is why many people in those areas died in hunger. Food makes our body strong and healthy that is if we eat the right amount being required daily. Eating less might lead to poor health condition and at the same level, eating more may also have some bad effects in our health too. Many people find it so comfortable to eat and some really eat a lot. Some are just making eating a habit and they are thinking that it is just normal in doing so. However, there might also some problems that make a person eats a lot. What is Polyphagia? Polyphagia is a medical condition that shows abnormality in a person’s strong desire to eat a lot. It is a condition wherein a person always feels like she or he needs to eat. It is an abnormal feeling of excessive hunger. It is just normal for a person to feel hungry especially for those who are not eating the right food and those who have nothing to eat. People who are also doing excessive physical activities may feel the hunger because of the burnt energy.

A feeling of having a very good appetite may also be considered normal as there are really other people who have good appetite but can still regularize their food intake. Polyphagia Symptoms Simply, excessive eating is the sign of Polyphagia. Relatively most of the people who have this disorder may have a tendency to gain weight. Polyphagia Causes There are many underlying factors to consider in Polyphagia. While it is just normal for people to eat, excessive food hunger may have various causes. One of the factors that may increase your desire to eat is if you are suffering from type 1- diabetes or what we call diabetes mellitus. Normally those who are in the beginning stage of diabetes feel excessive hunger. Intake of large amount of high glycemic index carbohydrates contributes in the shoot up of blood sugar as well as the level of insulin. These carbohydrates are being digested quickly which tend to increase hunger and at the same time the desire to eat also increases. Hormonal imbalances may also cause Polyphagia. Hyperthyroidism is one of the hormonal imbalances that cause excessive hunger. Another one is having a hyperadrenalism or an increase level of adrenal hormones increases your desire to eat.

Most women are being affected by these hormonal imbalances especially during pregnancy. In some cases, women may experience Polyphagia during the menstrual cycle. Anxiety and depression can also cause a high desire to eat. Many people tend to divert attention to eating especially if they are depressed. This is being done in order to avoid facing the real condition or situation they are in to. Sometimes even stress can cause excessive hunger. There are people who go into eating when they are fully stressed. Although there are some people who tend not to eat or can not eat a lot because of stressful situation. A malfunction in hypothalamus which is actually a syndrome called Kleine-Levin Syndrome may also cause excessive hunger or increased desire to eat. Klein-Levin Syndrome or commonly known as KLS is also being referred to as Sleeping Beauty Syndrome. This is a syndrome wherein the affected person tends to have excessive sleep. It is actually a neurological disorder wherein the patient sleeps most of the time and when they are awake, they may exhibit food cravings. In fact some patient just wake up to eat and then go back to sleep and then eat again upon waking up. Bulimia nervosa or simply bulimia is another eating disorder.

People suffering from this disorder actually most in younger generation, has a high desire to eat. As a matter of fact, they tend to overeat. However, with the fear to go overweight or gain more weight, they will attempt to purge. They will do desperate moves which include vomiting, taking diet pills, perform too much work out or exercise, use of too much laxative and sometimes go to a period of fasting until they go to the level of starving their selves. Just for clarification this eating disorder is different from anorexia nervosa. Although both are in the condition of eating disorder, those suffering from anorexia nervosa can control their eating. Bulimics can not control their eating. Prader-Willi Syndrome also shows indication of Polyphagia. This syndrome actually occurs in children wherein after their first birthday continuous food cravings start and their desire to eat increases as they grow. There are also certain drugs that can cause excessive hunger. These include acitretin, a drug being used to treat psoriasis. Drugs treating depression and type 2-diabetes may also cause Polyphagia. Of course if too much eating will not stop, there are various risk factors that can occur. The most obvious is obesity.

Serious and dreadful illnesses could also trigger. Polyphagia Treatment Since Polyphagia is more of a symptom of certain disorder or illness applicable treatment varies on the medical condition. Therefore the treatment should be directly applied to its cause. For those who have excessive eating because of diabetes insulin and other medications that can regulate blood sugar should be taken. For those with hyperthyroidism there are also prescriptive medications that can be taken. In some cases, radioactive therapy and surgery can be done depending on the level of the disease. What is important to note is that Polyphagia is not a contagious disease. This can be treated and can be controlled. It will always be good to consult your medical doctor or physician immediately for any disorders that you may feel. Leave a Reply Polyphagia - Symptoms and Causes of Increased Appetite Polyphagia Polyphagia - Increased Appetite Polyphagia is also known as hyperphagia Polyphagia is the medical term used to describe excessive hunger or increased appetite and is one of the 3 main signs of diabetes.

An increase in hunger is usually a response to normal things such as intensive exercise or other strenuous activity, but polyphagia can also be the result of more severe issues such as depression or stress. Also known as hyperphagia, it is one of the three main symptoms of diabetes, along with: Polydipsia (increased thirst) and Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) Certain prescription drugs such as corticosteroids Some psychiatric conditions Rare medical conditions such as Kleine-Levin Syndrome and Prader-Willi Syndrome Hunger and hyperglycemia In uncontrolled diabetes where blood glucose levels remain abnormally high ( hyperglycemia ), glucose from the blood cannot enter the cells - due to either a lack of insulin or insulin resistance - so the body can’t convert the food you eat into energy. This lack of energy causes an increase in hunger. Simply eating will not get rid of the hungry feeling of polyphagia in people with uncontrolled diabetes, as this will just add to the already high blood glucose levels. The best way to lower blood glucose levels is to exercise as this can help to stimulate insulin production and reduce blood sugar levels .

However, if the hunger persists, you may need to consult your doctor or diabetes health care team. Hunger and hypoglycemia How do you know when you're hungry? Increased appetite can also be caused by abnormally low blood glucose (hypoglycemia). If blood glucose readings fall below 4 mmol/l, the body usually responds by releasing stored glucose from the liver to raise glucose levels back to normal. However, people with diabetes that take medication such as insulin and sulfonylureas are at risk of developing a severe form of hypoglycemia and should therefore treat low blood glucose levels by eating something sweet as soon as hypoglycemia is recognised. Read more on treating hypoglycemia Recognising the symptoms of polyphagia The main sign of polyphagia is excessive hunger that doesn’t go away by simply eating more food or eating more regularly than normal. If you are worried by your sudden increase in appetite, you should consult your doctor. They will examine you to check whether your hunger is a symptom of diabetes or another medical condition.

Common symptoms of diabetes Increased Appetite / Polyphagia / Hyperphagia � Symptom Evaluation About An increase in appetite is seen in conditions like bulimia, diabetes, hyperthyroidism and worm infestation. Do you find that you frequently look for food in the fridge or eating excessively? You could be suffering from a condition called polyphagia or hyperphagia. An increase in appetite may be a normal feature seen in certain stages of life. For example, a growing adolescent eats extra. A pregnant woman has increased appetite. A strenuous exercise schedule increases appetite. A person recovering from an illness may also feel the desire to eat. Advertisement Sometimes, an increase in appetite may reflect an underlying illness that needs to be treated. Hence, it is important to evaluate a case of excessive increase in appetite at the earliest. Some conditions that could cause an increase in appetite are: Bulimia: Bulimia nervosa is a condition where a person has episodes of loss of control of eating and ends up eating excessively for a particular period of time. These episodes are then followed by compensatory behaviors like vomiting, laxative use, fasting or the use of medications to lose weight.

Diabetes mellitus: Diabetes mellitus in adults is often diagnosed based on three major symptoms: polyuria or increase in urination, polyphagia or increased eating and polydipsia or an increase in thirst. In diabetes, insulin is either less or the cells of the body are resistant to insulin. Thus, glucose is unable to enter the cells and signals are sent to the brain indicating hunger. This leads to excessive eating or polyphagia. Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar levels also make the patient hungry. This is to stimulate the person to eat more, so that the blood sugar levels are restored. Other symptoms of hypoglycemia include nervousness, dizziness, sweating, shakiness and weakness. Convulsions and coma may occur during the later stages. Hyperthyroidism and Gravesï¿½ Disease: Hyperthyroidism and Gravesï¿½ disease are conditions where there is an increase in thyroid hormone levels in the blood. The thyroid hormone increases the rate of metabolism, thus making a person hungry faster. This results in an increased appetite. Since the calories are burnt at a faster rate, the patients do not put on weight, but on the contrary lose weight.

Worm Infestation: Infestation with worms in the intestines of especially children results in increased hunger. Here again, the child does not put on weight. The patient may suffer from abdominal pain due to the infestation. Premenstrual Syndrome: In premenstrual syndrome, which is the time just before a menstrual period, a woman often experiences an increased appetite especially for high fat and high sugar food. The increase in appetite is possibly triggered by the hormonal changes before menstruation. Mood Disorders: Mood disorders like manic psychosis and bipolar disorders can increase appetite. Anxiety is also associated with increased eating. Drug-induced: Certain drugs can increase appetite and consequently food intake. These include corticosteroids, cyproheptadine, tricyclic antidepressants as well as marijuana. Brain Disorders: Kleine-Levin Syndrome is a rare brain disorder where the patient experiences episodes of excessive sleeping and eating. The condition probably affects the hypothalamus, the center in the brain that controls sleep and eating. Rare genetic disorders like Prader-Willi Syndrome and Bardet Biedl Syndrome also result in excessive eating. However, these conditions are very rare and other features associated with these conditions help to diagnose them. FAQs 1.

Which doctor should I visit in case I suffer from an increase in appetite? You should visit your general practitioner or family doctor, who on the basis of several questions, will try to pinpoint if the increase in appetite is due to any abnormality. He may order specific tests and then refer you to a specialist. 2. How does a doctor diagnose what is the cause of increase in appetite? A doctor will find out if the increase in appetite is associated with other features and try to pinpoint the cause, for example increased thirst and urination (as seen in diabetes), or tremors as seen in hyperthyroidism. Tests like blood glucose, thyroid function tests or stool test for suspected worms will be ordered based on the underlying symptoms. Treatment of the underlying disorder usually controls the increased appetite. 3. Does an increase in appetite result in weight gain? In some cases like Kleine-Levin Syndrome, the increase in appetite results in weight gain. In other cases, where the metabolic rate is also increased like hyperthyroidism, the weight may not be changed and in fact may decrease despite the increase in appetite.

Advertisement Phenobarbital Phenobarbital Table of Contents of frequently asked questions (FAQs) Phenobarbital (PB), which is of the barbiturate family of drugs, is the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drug (AED) for dogs. Because it is so commonly prescribed, its relative safety and efficacy (effectiveness) is well documented. It was first used in 1912 as the first synthetic AED for treating epilepsy (in humans). Phenobarbital is often referred to as simply 'pheno' or 'phenobarb' and abbreviated as PB. Why is Pheno usually prescribed first? Clinical reports indicate that 60 to 80% of epileptic dogs can be controlled effectively with only PB. It is relatively inexpensive, fairly easy to maintain PB serum levels with 2 or 3 times a day daily dosing and has few side effects. However, Potassium Bromide (KBr) is gaining ground on PB when it comes to being considered the first drug of choice when treating seizures. But ...I'm afraid to use PB because of liver damage In the beginning it is far more important to get the seizures under control than to be concerned about liver damage that "may" never occur.

When PB is used properly, PB serum levels (discussed below) monitored as well as testing liver functions, the risk of liver disease is very low. If by chance your dog is beginning to experience early signs of liver disease, the condition can usually be reversed. The use of Milk Thistle can help to improve the liver. What are the side effects? If you notice any side effects, this will normally be in the first few weeks of starting PB therapy and also when the PB dosage is increased. These side effects will normally diminish in time. These are sedation, ataxia (loss of coordination), and the 3 P's: polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyuria (excessive urination) and polyphagia (excessive eating). Gaining weight is a common problem for many dogs on PB and this is one side effect that might not diminish. Therefore it is important to use as little as possible 'extra'food in giving medication. After long term usage, another problem is that the dog's system becomes use to the drug and will usually need a greater dosage to maintain control. Where can I get PB? PB is a controlled substance - but don't let that scare you.

You must have a veterinarian's prescription to obtain it. You can get it either thru your veterinarian or pharmacy (with a prescription from your vet). Check around with the various pharmacies in your area and don't forget to check with the discount store pharmacies. PB is relatively inexpensive but it still doesn't hurt to shop around. PB comes in 15, 30, 60 (referred to as a grain) and 100 mg tablets and as a 4 mg/ml solution. If your vet prescribes 30 mg to be given every 12 hours, you'll find that it's easier to buy 30 mg tablets, but it will be less expensive to buy 60 mg tablets and split them. Since the actual cost of the drug is very inexpensive, the cost you pay is related more to the cost of filling the prescription than related to the cost of the medication. Today all PB is generic. Occasionally your veterinarian or pharmacist will change pharmaceutical suppliers. If this happens you might notice a difference in the size/shape of the PB tablets. In general this should not present a problem for your dog. But just beware of the change.

To be on the safe side also check the last bottle of PB with the new one to make sure the dosage is the same regardless of the tablet size, if any questions call your pharmacist or veterinarian. What is a grain? A grain is often referred to as 60 mg. The Merck Veterinary manual says 1 grain is 65 mg (approximately). Others often refer to a grain as 64 mg. The Webster dictionary says 1 grain is 64.8 mg and the Handbook of Chemistry & Physics says 1 grain is 64.798918 mg. The term comes from the weight of a grain of wheat. How is the initial dosage determined? Your veterinarian will take into consideration several factors when determining the initial starting dosage for your dog. These can include such things as: severity of your dog's seizures, frequency of seizures, weight of your dog and also other medications that your dog might be on. When considering just your dog's weight, the initial daily dosage is approximately 5 mg/kg which is (again approximately) about 2.3 mg/lb. Another way to look at this would be to double your dog's weight (2 mg/lb).

Example: if your dog weighs 30 lbs, the initial recommended daily dosage could be 2.3 mg PB x 30 lbs (the weight of your dog) = 69 mg/day. Or simply doubling your dogs weight (30 lbs in this example) would be 60 mg/day. Therefore you could give your dog either a 30 mg tablet every 12 hours or split a 60 mg (grain) tablet and give a 1/2 grain every 12 hours. As mentioned above in addition to considering the weight of your dog, the severity of the seizures is also taken into consideration. For example, for a dog with fairly severe or frequent seizures, your veterinarian may use a relatively higher starting dose. For a dog with infrequent, mild seizures, your veterinarian may often use a lower dose (to minimize side effects) and gradually increase the dose if necessary, The first PB level should be taken 2 weeks after starting PB therapy. Based on the 'trough' levels and on how well the seizures are controlled, your veterinarian might leave the initial dosage the same or adjust it.

Ideally trough levels should be taken 14, 45, 90 & and 180 days after starting PB therapy and at least every 6 months thereafter. What is a loading dose? Because it can take up to 7-14 days for PB to get into the system to become effective (reach steady-state serum levels), some veterinarians might prescribe a loading dose during this period. Where the normal starting dosage is 5 mg/kg/day the loading dosage can be anywhere between 5 and 16 mg/kg/day. How do I know that my dog is receiving the proper doseage? Each dog is different, so is their ability to metabolize medications. The only way to determine if your dog is getting the proper dosage is to monitor the PB serum concentrations (levels). This is done with a blood test. The first level is usually taken 2 weeks after initially starting PB therapy. Based on the level results and also on how well the seizures are controlled, the dosage can be adjusted. By the way, if the PB blood serum level results come back and are not what you expected and there is no known reason for them to be 'off', ask to have the test re-run.

Levels should be taken at least twice a year, if not more often. Levels...what do the numbers mean? When the lab sends your veterinarian the results from a PB serum level test, they will also note the range that the lab uses. One suggested range is 20-35 ug/ml (86-150umol/l in countries that use micromoles), another is 15-45 ug/ml and yet another is 15-40 ug/ml. In general the low level of the therapeutic range means that 50% of the dogs at the low level will exhibit some benefit (ie: seizure control) from the PB. Likewise, 50% of the dogs that are at the upper limit will NOT show signs of PB toxicity. As you can see, these lower and upper therapeutic ranges are a little vague. Therefore it is just as important to take into consideration your dog's seizure control and side effects rather than just relying on the numbers. Trough and peak levels. In the beginning it is important to test the trough level. A trough level represents the PB serum concentration when it is at it's lowest in the dog's system.

If this level is too low, your dog could have a seizure. Therefore it is important in the beginning that this level is within therapeutic range. Some suggest that a minimum trough level is 20. After your dog has been on PB and steady-state levels have been reached, a PB peak level can be taken. While the trough level is taken just before the next dosage is due, the peak level is taken anywhere from 4-6 hours (some say 4-8 hours) after PB dosage. Also if your dog has been given food, the food can delay the 'peak' period by several hours. So as you can see, determining the 'peak' time is not exactly precise. The peak level represents the maximum amount of PB in the system and is important for determining whether your dog might be reaching toxic levels. There are other signs of toxicity too - ataxia and the beginning of liver disease being two of them. The seizures are now well controlled, can I reduce the dosage? This should ONLY be done under the direct supervision of your veterinarian. You should NEVER do this on your own without consulting with your veterinarian.

If your dog is under the care of several veterinarians (say a 'traditional' practitioner and an 'alternative' practitioner) it is necessary that each of them are aware of what the other is recommending. This is very important. One of the causes of status (status epilepticus) is reducing the PB - so reduction should be done very carefully and with the knowledge and approval of your veterinarians. If you've not added another AED, you should wait until your dog is seizure free from between 6 months and a year. Then you could gradually begin to reduce the PB dosage by maybe 30%. Withdrawing the PB too quickly can bring on a seizure - even status. How long you wait until reducing it again varies, but don't be in too much of a hurry to reduce it if there is not a reason to do so (like liver disease). If you've added another AED (like KBr) and the new AED has had time to reach steady-state levels (around a month), you can consider slowly reducing the PB. The PB can be reduced a little faster under this scenario than if it was the only AED that your dog was on.

Is there anything I can do if I think my dog is going to have a seizure? Yes, if you notice that your dog is exhibiting a behavior that results in a seizure, you can increase the PB dosage for a short period of time until you are sure that the potential for having a seizure is over. Then you can return to the normal dosage. If you think a seizure might be brought on by stress (like company, visiting the vet or dog groomer), you could try using Rescue Remedy. The one thing that you NEVER want to do is give your dog acepromazine. Acepromazine can reduce the seizure threshold and thus bring on a seizure. Be sure to discuss this issue with your veterinarian. What if I miss a doseage or am late giving it? Give the dosage as soon as you realize that it was missed. Even if it is time to give the next dosage, give the missed dosage. If your dog is vomiting and can't keep the medication down, check with your veterinarian. Also see the above paragraph "IS THERE ANYTHING TO DO IF I THINK MY DOG MIGHT HAVE A SEIZURE?" I'm not going to be home when the next doseage is due, what can I do? This is tough.

If you can, give the dosage earlier rather than later. If it is easier to give the dosage that day every 8 hours instead of every 12, divide the dosage into thirds and give. And if you give the dosage really early, you might want to give an extra dosage when you get home. If you have a responsible neighbor or friend that could stop in and give your dog the medication, that would be perfect. Another thing you could try (but I would try this out before you needed to use it) would be to get one of the automatic cat feeders. You could set the timer to release the food (along with the medication) at a specified time. Just make sure that your dog will take the pills this way and not just eat the food - leaving the pills behind. What drugs should not be taken whilst my dog is on PB? Acepromazine is a definite no for dogs that have seizures. Remind your veterinarian that your dog is on PB when another drug is prescribed - this is important for over-the-counter medications too. There is a wonderful paperback book "The Pill Book Guide to Medication For Your Dog and Cat", Bantam Books.

By all means look up the prescribed or over-the-counter drug in this book before giving it to your dog. Don't be afraid to question any medication that your dog is given. When seeing another vet for the first time and you complete the health history on your dog, under the section 'is your dog allergic to anything', make sure that you write down acepromazine and also note that your dog is on phenobarbital. Not meaning to get too technical here, but PB is a highly protein bound drug. This protein is not to be confused with the protein in your dog's food. If two highly protein bound drugs are given together, they will compete for protein carriers and may, depending on the drugs, interfere with each others absorption and distribution through the body/bloodstream. For example, Rimadyl and the barbiturates may cause one or both of the drugs to be less effective due to competition for protein binding sites, therefore dosages may have to be adjusted to either control the seizures or control the arthritis better. What if my dog and I are out of town and I forgot the medication? Please, please, please double check before you leave home that you have enough PB (and any other medication) with you for your dog.

If you leave home without money, you can get some from an ATM machine. If you leave home without your dog's PB, it could be very hard to obtain - resulting with your dog having seizures. If going to a vet that is not your own (one that you have not established a client/patient relationship with) it could be VERY VERY difficult to obtain PB or for that matter any other medication that your dog needs. Always carry the phone number for your vet with you, preferably both the clinic and home phone number. Also keep a list with you of all the medication (name, dosage, brand) that your dog is on. What if my dog's seizures are not controlled by PB? The most important thing when giving medication (especially an AED) is compliance. If your dog is on PB twice a day, it needs to be given approximately every 12 hours - every day. So ask yourself, "have I been faithful in giving my dog his/her medication on time & every day?" If the answer is no, then this could be possibly the problem. Then ask yourself "is my dog on a different type of food, a different medication, lost weight,gained weight, has anything been changed from when the seizures were last under control?".

If so, discuss this with your veterinarian. If the seizures are occurring around the time that the next dosage is to be given, you should look at the trough values. If this is the case, you could also look into giving the PB 3 times a day instead of twice. If the time between seizures is satisfactory, the peak levels within therapeutic range, but your dog is experiencing cluster seizures (multiple seizures in a 24 hour period), you could look into adding an additional AED - namely Potassium Bromide (KBr). If your dog's seizures are refractory (difficult to control) with just PB, adding KBr could make a great difference. One study reported that dogs that were refractory to PB, 86% of them had improved seizure control and 26% of the 86% became totally seizure free when adding KBr. I'd like to read more about PB any recommendations? Yes, see the article "Seizures in Dogs" by Dr Michael Podell, MSc, DVM that appeared in the July 1996 issue of Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, Vol 26, Number 4 (pages 779-809).

**** The above information is NOT intended to replace that provided by your veterinarian. Always discuss any changes regarding your dog's health or medication with your veterinarian. Increased Appetite in Dogs | petMD Increased Appetite in Dogs Polyphagia in Dogs When a dog increases its food intake, to the extent that it appears ravenous most or all of the time, the condition is referred to as polyphagia. This condition can be caused by different circumstances, and it is important to find out whether the dog’s increased food consumption is due to a psychological condition, or to a disease. Should the reason be a psychological problem, then it is likely that the dog has developed a learned behavior, which could lead to obesity. However, if the underlying cause of your pet's increased food intake is due to a diseased state, then one of two physical effects will be observed: weight gain or weight loss. Polypghagia can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this condition affects cats, please visit this page in the PetMD health library.

The symptoms normally associated with polyphagia include: Increased frequency in urination ( polyuria ) An inability to properly absorb food Causes If the polyphagic condition is related to some sort of behavioral problem, the underlying cause could be associated with the aging process. During old age, some dogs are known to be extremely hungry. It is also possible that some form of medication that has been prescribed for your dog may be the reason for its increased appetite, and thus its polyphagia. Polyphagia can also be the result of diabetes onset, because the body often can not assimilate blood sugar when diabetic conditions are present. Blood sugar levels can be lowered as a direct result of insulin related tumors that your dog may have developed, and this will also have a direct impact on its appetite. It may be possible that your dog has developed poor absorption of its food within the gastrointestinal system, leading to weight loss for reasons such as inflammatory bowel problems, insulin deficiencies, or intestinal cancer. An inability to absorb food properly could cause your pet to lose valuable nutrients required for good health. Diagnosis Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your dog, and may also recommend blood tests, urine tests, radiographic imaging, organ tests, and an endoscopy.

When undertaking biochemical testing of the organs, it is possible to evaluate the functioning of vital organs like the liver and kidneys. It is worthwhile to have these tests performed on your dog, because any endocrine disorders related to insulin dysfunction will also be established, should they be present. Abnormally low blood sugar, known as hypoglycemia, may also be found, and this could be related to some forms of insulin-producing tumors that could affect the functioning of the pancreas. A blood count will allow your veterinarian to examine the blood for the presence of infectious agents, and will also show whether your pet has developed anemia (low blood iron), or any inflammation in the vessels. Absence of these conditions may point to whether the increased appetite is due to a behavioral problem, or to a physical problem. Your veterinarian may suggest urine analysis to evaluate whether or not your pet is losing excessive amounts of protein through its urine. A urine test will also show infection of the urinary tract, or infection of the organs involved in the waste process, as well as sugar dropped into the urine, which is commonly found in the urine of dogs with diabetes.

Your doctor may also want to perform an examintaion by endoscopy, which uses a tube that is inserted through the mouth and into the hollow cavity of the stomach (or other organ) so that a sample of tissue (biopsy) can be taken from the stomach and duodenum (small intestine). Increased Appetite: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatments Increased Appetite Email addresses will not be shared with 3rd parties. See privacy policy Thank you. Your message has been sent. OK We're sorry, an error occurred. We are unable to collect your feedback at this time. However, your feedback is important to us. Please try again later. Close If you want to eat more often or in larger quantities than you’re used to, your appetite has increased. If you eat more than your body requires, it leads to weight gain. Read more If you want to eat more often or in larger quantities than you’re used to, your appetite has increased. If you eat more than your body requires, it leads to weight gain. It’s normal to have an increased appetite after physical exertion or some other activities.

But if your appetite is significantly increased over a prolonged period of time, it could be a symptom of a serious illness, such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism. Mental health conditions, such as depression and stress, can also lead to appetite changes and overeating. If you’re experiencing excessive ongoing hunger, make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor may refer to your increased appetite as hyperphagia or polyphagia. Your treatment will depend on the underlying cause of your condition. Causes of increased appetite You may have an increased appetite after engaging in sports or other exercise. If it persists, it might be a symptom of an underlying health condition or other issue. For example, increased appetite can result from: bulimia , an eating disorder in which you binge eat and then induce vomiting or use laxatives to avoid gaining weight hyperthyroidism , or overactive thyroid gland Graves’ disease , an autoimmune disease in which your thyroid produces too much thyroid hormones hypoglycemia , or low blood sugar diabetes , a chronic condition in which your body has trouble regulating blood sugar levels People who have used cannabis (marijuana) regularly and stop taking it may experience increased appetite as a withdrawal syndrome.

Diagnosing the cause of your increased appetite If your appetite has significantly and persistently increased, contact your doctor. It’s particularly important to contact them if changes in your appetite are accompanied by other symptoms. Your doctor will probably want to perform a thorough physical examination and note your current weight. They will likely ask you a series of questions, such as: Are you trying to diet? Have you gained or lost a substantial amount of weight? Did your eating habits change prior to your increased appetite? What is your typical daily diet like? What is your typical exercise routine like? Have you previously been diagnosed with any chronic diseases? What prescription or over-the-counter medications or supplements do you take? Does your pattern of excessive hunger coincide with your menstrual cycle? Have you also noticed increased urination? Have you felt more thirsty than normal? Have you been regularly vomiting, either intentionally or unintentionally? Are you feeling depressed, anxious, or stressed? Do you use alcohol or illegal drugs? Do you have any other physical symptoms? Have you recently been ill? Depending on your symptoms and medical history, they may order one or more diagnostic tests. For example, they may order blood tests and thyroid function testing to measure the level of thyroid hormones in your body.

If they can’t find a physical cause for your increased appetite, your doctor may recommend a psychological evaluation with a mental health professional. Treating the cause of your increased appetite Don’t attempt to treat changes in your appetite using over-the-counter appetite suppressants without talking to your doctor first. Their recommended treatment plan will depend on the cause of your increased appetite. If they diagnose you with an underlying medical conditions, they can help you learn how to treat and manage it. If you’re diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor or dietitian can help you learn how to control your blood sugar levels. They can also instruct you how to recognize the early warning signs of low blood sugar, and how to take steps to correct the problem quickly. Low blood sugar is also known as hypoglycemia and can be considered a medical emergency. If not properly treated, it can lead to loss of consciousness or even death. If your appetite problems are caused by medications, your doctor may recommend alternative drugs or adjust your dosage. Never attempt to stop taking prescription medication or change your dosage without talking to your doctor first. In some cases, your doctor may recommend psychological counseling. For example, an eating disorder, depression, or other mental health conditions usually include psychological counseling as part of the treatment.

Written by Ann Pietrangelo

Question: In humans, Polyphagia is an excessive desire to do what?
Answer: Eat