Medications and Weight Gain
It is surprising to learn how many doctors prescribe medications that are known to cause weight gain to people that suffer from obesity, overweight and obesity-related illnesses.
While obesity is often the result of genetics, the environment, poor choices and/or psychological issues, there are also prescription drugs than can cause weight gain as a side effect by increasing appetite or decreasing the metabolism. Such drugs include corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone (used for a variety of conditions to reduce inflammation); ethinylestradiol (a form of estrogen used in some oral contraceptives); anticonvulsants such as valproic acid; certain anticancer medications; and drugs such as olanzapine, haloperidol, lithium, and clozapine, which are used to treat psychiatric conditions.
Paradoxically, weight gain can also be a side effect of some of the drugs used to treat conditions that result from obesity itself. Among these drugs are insulin and glyburide, treatments for diabetes, which is common among people with weight disorders. Several antidepressants may cause patients to put on weight, including tricyclic antidepressants (such as imipramine or desipramine), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAIOs), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) -- such as paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa), sertraline (Zoloft), fluvoxamine (Luvox), and fluoxetine (Prozac).
When used to treat depression, SSRIs may cause weight loss initially, but within six months of treatment they can induce weight gain in a number of patients. On the other hand, sibutramine (Meridia), another drug that stimulates serotonin (like the SSRIs), is an appetite suppressant that's used to promote weight loss. And in a small number of patients, SSRIs such as Prozac actually cause weight loss, making them useful as a therapy for weight disorders.
If you are taking any of these medications and you are concerned about possible weight gain, you may want to speak with your doctor to see if there is an alternative medication that might work for you. You should ALWAYS speak with your doctor or health care provider before altering your intake of medications in any way.
Sources: fitnessmagazine.com Fitness Magazine Online Medication Disclosures from manufacturers and numerous publications and personal stories.