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Due to their orexigenic action, some classes of medication are likely to increase appetite, which consequently results in weight gain. However, not all medications make you gain weight and not all patients experience these effects.
If you experience sudden weight gain for no apparent reason, it is crucial to consult your doctor for guidance to tackle the issue promptly. Never discontinue your treatment without consulting your doctor first.
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List of common medications that cause weight gain:
According to a publication by the Mayo Clinic (a university medical center based in the USA), several classes of medication are known to promote weight gain. Here are the drugs most known to cause weight gain during treatment.
Antidepressants and antipsychotics
Antidepressants prescribed to relieve symptoms of severe depression and motor retardation are effective in restoring energy, pleasure and positive thoughts. But they also have the effect of reducing the sensation of satiety, thereby increasing appetite. This can lead to weight gain, particularly in depressed people who lack physical activity. Antidepressants can also modify or slow down the metabolism, contributing to weight gain.
The same applies to neuroleptics, psychotropic drugs prescribed to relieve pathologies affecting the central nervous system. Their effect is to stimulate appetite and lower your body’s metabolism. As a result, your body consumes fewer calories and stores more.
Cortisone or corticosteroids
In high doses and with prolonged treatment, cortisone can lead to weight gain. This medication, prescribed to treat inflammation or allergies, can cause salt and water retention. It promotes edema and the distribution of fat cells, which are concentrated in particular on the face, neck and waist.
Antidiabetic drugs
Many oral or injectable antidiabetics, such as insulin, can cause weight gain, as they promote glucose storage in the body. If glucose is not used for energy expenditure, it is stored as fat. It is therefore important to combat diabetes-related overweight through healthy eating, portion control and exercise
Antihypertensives (blood pressure medications) and beta-blockers
These drugs, used to treat high blood pressure, promote salt and water retention. Tissues swell and tend to form edemas.
They also affect thermogenesis. Thermogenesis refers to the production of heat by the body’s metabolic activities. When thermogenesis is stimulated, energy expenditure is increased and excess energy is less likely to be stored as fat.
As a result of several studies, specialists have concluded that beta-blockers tend to reduce thermogenesis, leading to greater accumulation of fats in tissues and increased oxidation of fats in the body.
Consequently, patients on long-term beta-blocker therapy should pay close attention to weight trends, by monitoring their diet and engaging in even moderate physical activity.
The birth control pill
Some contraceptive pills have the side effect of weight gain. Of course, this is not automatic, and does not affect all women.
This is explained by the presence of estrogens in these pills and the anabolic effect of progestogens, which promote water and salt retention, thus increasing weight. What’s more, these hormones are thought to influence the formation of adipose tissue and the distribution of fat, particularly in the thighs and buttocks.
Fortunately, not all pills have this effect on weight. Today, there are “new generation” pills with a lower estrogen content and a less significant effect of progestins on weight.
This state of affairs should also be the subject of research into external factors favoring this excess weight, such as a change in diet, smoking cessation… In addition, follow-up by one’s gynecologist should be put in place if weight gain becomes significant.
Sleeping pills and antihistamines
Sleeping pills and antihistamines prescribed to combat allergies contain a molecule known as diphenydramine. This substance, which has a sedative effect on the body, leads to a reduction in basic metabolism. As a result, the body expends less energy, leading to weight gain.
How to maintain a healthy weight when you’re taking medication?
How to avoid medication-induced weight gain: Prevention and solutions?
First and foremost, if your medication is causing you to gain weight, it’s strongly recommended that you contact your GP to find ways of counteracting the weight gain. Your doctor may be able to modify your treatment: change the medication, reduce the dose..
A few preventive measures
In all cases, the best way to prevent the side effects of these drugs is to watch your diet, eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly to avoid excess weight.
In the event of edema or water retention, it is advisable to limit your intake of salt, fatty and sugary foods. Favors certain fruits and vegetables whose natural fibers have a draining action: artichokes, asparagus, celery, cucumbers, melons, peaches, grapes… as well as organic proteins (turkey, chicken, fish, eggs…). You should also drink an average of 1.5 liters of water a day. For legs swollen by edema, you can elevate them or massage them from bottom to top.
