Prescription Drugs That Cause Weight Fluctuation

When you are put on a new medication by your doctor, one of the first things you should pay attention to are the potential side effects. Even though the fine print may be difficult to read, you should be aware of what to watch out for. Talking over these potential pitfalls with your doctor or pharmacist is a necessity. One common side effect of diabetic medications, birth control, anti-histamines, blood pressure, and mood stabilizing medication is weight fluctuation. But thankfully, if you are on one of these types of medications, there are ways that you can avoid this pesky and annoying side effect.

Mood Stabilizers

SSRI –selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors – such as Paxil (paroxetine) or Zoloft are some of the biggest culprits in unwanted weight gain. These types of drugs improve your mood by making more serotonin available to you. And in making you feel good, it increases certain cravings, including making you want to eat more carbs.

Beta-Blockers and Blood Pressure Meds

A beta blocker like Tenormin (atenolol) is a common treatment for high blood pressure when diuretics fail to help. The primary reason is that this drug makes your metabolism slow down, making you feel sluggish and prone to skipping leg (and every other) day at the gym.

Anti-histamines

There are about 17.6 million adults in the United States that suffer from some sort of allergy. Most of them treat their hay fever with anti-histamines. Unfortunately, these types of remedies – such as Allegra (fexofenadine) – can cause weight gain by causing an enzyme in the brain to be disrupted. This crucial enzyme helps regulate food intake, so when it goes wonky, you tend to eat more.

Diabetic Medications

The primary cause of weight fluctuation from drugs used to treat diabetes is the production of insulin. This chemical that is found naturally in the body has a tendency to make people gain weight. Insulin lowers blood sugar levels and elevates appetite, which can make you eat more. Studies have shown that most people tend to gain the most weight in the first three months, however.

Birth Control Pills

A lot of people blame birth control medication for weight gain, but current studies show that it’s not really true. The only medication that has been associated with weight gain is depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), a long-acting injectable marketed under the name Depo-Provera. Progesterone causes an increase in appetite. However, other studies have shown that the people who are most likely to gain weight on DMPA are those who were already heavy to begin with.

Corticosteroids

Oral corticosteroids are most often taken for severe asthma or extreme cases of arthritis. It is only the ingested corticosteroids that have the weight gain side effect; injected and inhaled variants are not associated with increased weight. Corticosteroids have an effect on the metabolism, which in turn leads to stimulation of your appetite and overeating.

How to Control Weight Fluctuation

Keep in mind that not everyone will have weight fluctuation as a side effect. But if you do, here are strategies for keeping yourself from gaining unwanted weight.

First, if you’re taking one of the above types of medications and you’re worried about weight gain, make sure to set a baseline. That means, weigh yourself before you start taking the medication. Then if you’re not sure if you’re gaining weight, weigh yourself again after two weeks. By comparing the two measurements, you will find out if the meds are causing weight fluctuation. If you are gaining weight, then you need to discuss options with your doctor.

The primary way you can stave off weight gain is by making sure you get plenty of exercise. In some cases, you may not feel like it, but keeping a workout journal can help. Joining an exercise group or a gym can help as well. Challenge a friend about who can make the most steps in a day and track your progress with an exercise monitor, such as a FitBit.

Another way that weight gain sneaks up on you is when your appetite increases and you start snacking. Keep track of what you eat with a food diary. This will help you see patterns in your diet that may not have been there before. Keep an eye out for high-carb or sugary snacks and work to substitute plant based healthy snacks in your diet. You can eat more; just make sure you’re eating more of the right thing.