Could Your Prescription Medication Be Causing Your Weight Gain

We all know why some of us are obese. Greasy fast food, calorie filled cheesecakes, syrupy soft drinks, salty potato chips, and over indulging on unhealthy foods in general. Unhealthy eating matched with little to no exercise is the ultimate recipe for weight gain.

But, did you ever stop to think that something else may be causing your weight gain or preventing you from losing weight. Not all people over indulge on unhealthy foods and not all people are physically inactive. Why are those people still having trouble losing weight? Maybe it's their medication.

Several medications, although beneficial to a patients overall health, may have the negative side effect of causing or inhibiting weight loss. If you find your medication listed, do not stop taking the medication. Instead, speak to your doctor about your concerns and allow him to utilize his medical expertise to weigh the risk versus benefit of changing your prescription.

The following are just some of the medications that can affect your weight.

Corticosteroids, such as Prednisone have the real potential of causing weight gain. Often times these medications are not able to be switched. An alternative could be a typical NSAID. Remember, speak to your doctor.

The following Trycyclic antidepressants have also been known to cause weight gain within the first 2 to 6 months of patients taking them. Remeron (mirtazapine), Elavil (amitriptyline), Aventyl (nortriptyline), Tofranil (imipramine), and others.

Some SSRIs, also known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors have also been weight gain culprits for some. Some patients report an initial

loss of weight when beginning the treatment, but, reported a weight gain within 6 months of starting the medication. Some examples of SSRIs are Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft, and Sarafem (sertraline).

Some MAOIs, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, have also been found to be culprits for some who have difficulty losing weight or have found themselves to be gaining weight. An example of an MAOI is Nardil (phenelzine). Lithium has also been reported to cause weight gain in some using the medication for an extended amount of time.

Some alternatives are Zyban, Wellbutrin, and Serzone. Remember, speak to your doctor about your concerns that the medications may be causing your weight gain or inhibiting your weight loss. Your medical professional can discuss with you if alternatives are available for your condition. Some other medications may be more dangerous for your body than the medications you are taking now. Your doctor will know what the appropriate treatment option is for you.

Some anticonvulsants, such as Depakoke, Tegretol, and Neurontin have caused some patients to gain unwanted weight. Some alternatives to discuss with your physician are Topamax (topiramate), Lamictal (lamotrigine), or Zonegran (zonisamide).

Not all patients who take these medications will report a weight gain. In fact, some may actually lose weight using these treatment options. The medications listed were only a handful of the kinds that can cause weight gain and only a small sample of their alternatives. If you feel your medications could be causing an increase in your weight you should speak to your doctor. This article is meant to inform you so you will be armed with more information when you speak to your medical professional. Remember to always write down any concerns you may have or ideas about your treatment plan before going to the doctor. Having a list with you when you are in the exam room can help you remember important topics and questions you wanted to discuss with your doctor.