In addition to an inadequate diet, there are other factors that can lead you to gain weight. Some birth control pills, for example, although experts revealed a reality to consider. Another reason that could make you gain weight is stress, when your cortisol levels skyrocket. But there is also a third reason: the medications you are taking.
According to several pharmaceutical experts, There are at least 6 types of medications that can make you gain weight due to their side effects..
However, this increase is not drastic either.. If you notice that you are gaining weight very quickly, do not focus on blaming your treatment, but also review what habits you are carrying out daily, in your diet and physical activity.
The 6 medications that can make you gain weight when consumed
These are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which are known as SSRIs. These types of medications translate into frequently prescribed antidepressants, such as paroxetine, sertraline, and fluoxetine.
According to pharmacist and medical affairs professional Aaron Emmel, One of the disadvantages of antidepressants is that they can potentially alter your appetite and exercise habits.. This means that a patient who needs to consume them constantly will have a tendency to gain weight.
“This increase occurs early, so talk to your doctor about other alternatives,” he recommended.
These are medications intended to treat hypertension and other heart conditions, as well as migraines, glaucoma, and even anxiety. However, experts from Mayo Clinic they warn that Starting treatment with beta blockers could give you two to three extra pounds.
They also suggest evaluating whether said weight gain is due to the consumption of the medication itself or to fluid retention resulting from heart failure.
Some medications that are part of corticosteroids are prednisone and cortisone, which you may have heard of before and are prescribed to treat inflammation.
According to pharmacist Aaron Emmel, “The higher the dose and the longer you take it, the more likely there will be weight gain”.
When taken for short periods, it is unlikely that there will be side effects such as gaining weight, however, the effect of the extra kilos is said to disappear in the months after stopping the medication.
They are prescribed under strict medical prescription to patients with epilepsy and other disorders that could cause seizures.
Pharmacist Jessica Nouhavandi, co-founder of Honey Bee Health, confirmed that These types of medications develop an increased appetite in the patient. She mentioned: gabapentin, pregabalin and vigabatrin.
“If you feel that the medication is not for you, talk to your doctor about switching to epilepsy medications that are associated with weight loss or that are neutral,” the expert advised.
They are used exclusively for psychological conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. One of the most common examples is olanzapine (Zypreza), which according to the portal Everyday Health, produces an alteration in glucose functions, even causing cholesterol to increase.
For her part, pharmacist Mitchell Howard, an expert in pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Toledo, pointed out that lurasidone and ziprasidone are antipsychotics with “less chance of causing weight gain.”
Antihistamines are a real lifesaver when it comes to allergic rhinitis and other types of allergies, on the skin, for example. A recent study also suggested that they may relieve long COVID symptoms.
Although the exact cause has not been determined, experts point out that some antihistamines such as fexofenadine and cetirizine are associated with the possibility of gaining weight when consuming them.
Until now, it is believed that these types of medications can alter your appetite and even cause metabolic changes.
It is likely that sometimes there is no solution, since you could be consuming the medication you precisely need. However, you always have the option to talk to your doctor and check what other options are available for your treatment.