Weight Gain...Prescription Drugs' Unwelcome Side Effect

You and your doctor have finally found the medication to treat your health problem. You are feeling better. Your prescription works well, has few side effects and you can afford it. All seems to be going well for a couple of months until you return for your check up, step on the scale, and discover a weight gain of 10 pounds.

You swear you are not eating any more than you ever have. The holiday season is over and you are back to your normal routine: but the scale doesn't lie. It shows a weight gain of 10 miserable pounds.

Relax! You do not have to blame yourself. It is not your fault. Many of the medications and drugs that are prescribed today have the unwanted side effect of weight gain. Side effects of many prescription drugs are broadcasted over and over during the continuous advertisements shown on TV, but rarely is weight gain mentioned.

In many cases physicians don't really know that weight gain will be a side effect until the patient tries the prescription.. Everyone reacts differently to medication, and for some unfortunates, weight gain occurs. Doctors don't usually attribute weight gain as a side effect. The patient may be curtly dismissed, told to eat less, and just to push away from the table.

But according to Lawrence Cheskin MD, Director of the John Hopkins Weight Management Center, the situation requires more investigating. Medication related weight gain has become an important topic in the last decade as more and more people are taking medications, and more and more people are becoming obese. Prescription induced weight gain should always be considered when a patient suddenly gains weight.

The reason why some medications cause weight gain and others do not is not easily understood. Weight gain can range from a few pounds to as much as 100 pounds in the case of corticosteroids. In many cases increased appetite and eating more causes weight gain. In other cases metabolism is slowed down causing the body to burn foods slower and store fat. Fatigue, a side effect of some medications causes a person to be less active and thus burn fewer calories. Fluid retention can also show up as weight gain on the scales.

Medications that can cause weight gain:

Antidepressants...Trazodone, Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Cymbalta and Lexapro

Diabetes...Actos, Avandia, Novolog

Arthritis....Mobic

Epilepsy, Nerve Pain...Neorontin

Blood Pressure...Catapres

Menopause...Hormone Replacement Therapy

Migraine...Depakote

Anti Inflammatory, asthma, arthritis...Prednisone, Dexamethasone, Betamethasone

Caution...If you are taking one of these medications and experiencing weight gain, Never Stop Taking Your Medicine Without First Consulting Your Physician. If the medication is working well, some changes in life style such as cutting down on calories maybe all that is needed. Some Weight Watchers groups have special programs for those taking prednisone. Getting more exercise always helps slow down weight gain. Finally, your physician can prescribe another medication for you which won't cause weight gain.

Sources:

St. Pete Times

John Hopkins: Prescription Drugs on medication-related weight gain

Personal Experience