For anyone who ’s watched a drug commercial message , it ’s no surprise that many medications come with a farsighted tilt of side effects . One coarse risk on these lists : weight gain . While medication - concern weight unit increase may not be dangerous in itself , bet on your wellness goals , a higher figure on the scale can be distress .
Anytime you start a fresh medication , ask your pill pusher for basic information , such as what the medicine is used for and its side effects , saysAshley Ellis , PharmD , CDCES , an assistant dean at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center ’s College of Pharmacy in Memphis , Tennessee . If weight gain is likely and you ’re uncomfortable with that , ask your doctor if you’re able to be on a low-down dose or if there are other options , she says . Of course , you ’ll still want to maintain sizeable feeding andexercisehabits ( orstart if you ’re not in a routine already ) .
Whether you ’re on a drug to treatanxietyordepression , a steroid to salvage the pain of arthritis , or an antihistamine to gain control condition of the sniffle and sneezes of allergic reaction , here ’s how they may affect your weight .
10 Common Food and Medication Interactions to Avoid
1. Tricyclic Antidepressants
These medications include amitriptyline ( Elavil ) , doxepin ( Silenor ) , and nortriptyline ( Pamelor ) . “ As a class , these drugs may increase appetite to excite weight gain , ” saysJessica Nouhavandi , PharmD , the co - CEO and cofounder of Honeybee Health , in Culver City , California . If you ’re onantidepressants , do n’t stop consume them dead ; talk over it first with your doctor and grow a programme that will comfortably support your genial wellness , notesHarvard Health Publishing . If weight amplification is making you want to stop take your medication , you’re able to talk to your doctor about switching to another course of antidepressants . “ Bupropion ( Wellbutrin ) or duloxetine ( Cymbalta ) are more associated with exercising weight red , while fluoxetine ( Prozac ) is regard weight neutral , ” says Dr. Nouhavandi .
2. Corticosteroids
Oralcorticosteroids , such as Liquid Pred ( Deltasone ) , address a compass of conditions , from asthma and arthritis to back pain and lupus , enunciate Dr. Ellis . “ These have a draw of side effects , one of which is an increased appetite , runny retention , and an altered metabolism , ” she says . Pharmacists urge taking corticosteroids along with food for thought , and Ellis hint a healthy , balanced snack , such as sweet almond or yogurt . Oral sex hormone are normally recommended for a short amount of time ( for case , a hebdomad or two - week dosage ) , which limits side effects . If you have to take them foresightful term , it may be more difficult to hold in your weighting amplification and you ’ll require to be more diligent with dieting and exercise , she says .
3. Antihistamines
If you have allergies or have ever had an itchyrash , you ’ve potential takenantihistamines . “ Studies have register that the great unwashed who take certain antihistamines on a steady cornerstone have a higher body free weight and waistline perimeter compared with those who do not , ” says Ellis . Researchin the journalObesityfound this affiliation with the H1 receptor antihistamines cetirizine ( Zyrtec ) , fexofenadine ( Allegra ) , and desloratadine ( Clarinex ) . Why ? “ Histamine in the body turn off hunger signal , ” explicate Ellis . In contrast , antihistamine may somehow interfere with fullness signals , she enounce . One alternative are nasal sex hormone sprays like fluticasone propionate ( Flonase ) . These work other than from unwritten steroids , and are mostly not consociate with weight gain , she says .
4. Epilepsy Medications
Drugs that process seizures , include Neurontin ( Gralise ) , pregabalin ( Lyrica ) , and vigabatrin ( Sabril ) may increase your appetite , says Nouhavandi , potentially leading to weight unit amplification . “ If you are a patient take one of these medication , it ’s significant to be aware that weight gain may be a result . If you feel that the medicine is not for you , talk to your MD about switch to epileptic medications that are associated with weight loss or are weight neutral , ” she says . Ask about felbamate ( Felbatol ) , topiramate ( Topamax ) , or lamotrigine ( Lamictal ) .
5. Beta-Blockers
Beta - blockers are commonly used to treathypertension , saysAaron Emmel , PharmD , the founder of Pharmacy Tech Scholar in St. Augustine , Florida . Some are more potential to cause weight gain , include atenolol ( Tenormin ) and metoprolol ( Lopressor ) , notes theMayo Clinic . The cause behind an uptick on the plate is n’t exculpated , Dr. Emmel says , but genus Beta - blockers can make you tired , especially as you first start taking the medicament . “ It slows down your heart rate and can decrease your example tolerance , ” he says . The fatigue and discomfort during activity may make you more likely to stay sedentary , propel weight gain . Onestudyshowed the drug may decrease metabolism , too . For that reason , the researchers suggested that mortal who are overweight or have obesity should not be prescribed beta - blocking agent as a first - line treatment . Instead , angiotensin - converting enzyme ( ACE ) inhibitorsmay be a better pick , but mouth to your doctor .
6. SSRIs
SSRIs areselective 5-hydroxytryptamine re-uptake inhibitor , a type of antidepressant drug , which increase levels of the neurotransmitterserotoninin the brain . Examples admit escitalopram ( Lexapro ) , paroxetine ( Paxil ) , and sertraline ( Zoloft ) . These may cause free weight gain by affecting your appetite ; also , by alleviating symptom of humor disorders , they may also touch deplete or exercise habit , says Emmel . “ If you experience weight increase , lecture to your physician . Weight gain usually happens ahead of time , which signals that it can become a long - term problem for you , ” he say .
7. MAOI
MAOI resist formonoamine oxidase inhibitor , which treats depression by blocking a brain enzyme that break down humour - equilibrate neurotransmitter such as 5-hydroxytryptamine anddopamine . It may also be used to reducemigraine symptoms . And they may also brace appetite , says Nouhavandi , who notes that Nardil ( Nardil ) do the most weighting profit in this class of drugs . If this is a concern for you , ask your doc if there are substitute options .
8. Insulin
If you ’re takinginsulinto kickshaw diabetes , know that it may promote system of weights gain . Namely , because the internal secretion helps your body occupy the glucose from your bloodstream . “ Glucose is a right thing — the cells in your body use it to work expeditiously , ” saysMitchell Howard , PharmD , a clinical helper prof in the department of pharmacy practice at the University of Toledo in Ohio . That said , after sugar is absorbed from the bloodstream and pushed into cells , it will be change into fat if it ’s not used by your body for energy . If you ’re overeating , particularly mellow - sugar solid food ( candy , sweet ) , you ’ll gain weight , he says . If you havetype 1 diabetes , you will need to take insulin . Yet if you havetype 2 diabetes , lifestyle changes will facilitate improve insulin function , and you may be able to use diet and exercise to lower ( or finally excrete ) your insulin dose , says Dr. Howard .
9. Sulfonylureas
Another vulgar division of diabetes medicament , sulfonylureasreduce blood sugar horizontal surface by 20 percent but also cause free weight profit of about 4 to 5 pounds ( lb ) on average , take note onestudy . Sulfonylureas include gliclazide ( Diamicron ) and glibenclamide ( Glynase ) . These drugs stimulate pancreatic genus Beta cells to free insulin . “ More insulin in your bloodstream pushes sugar into your cells , ” says Howard . In the goal , they cause system of weights gain similar to injectable insulin . There are diabetes medications , include Glucophage ( Fortamet ) orSGLT2 inhibitor , that also promote weightiness loss or are weight electroneutral , says Howard . The type of drug that ’s best for you depends on your aesculapian history , current health condition , and cost thoughtfulness , he says .
10. Antipsychotics
These medicament can be used to treatschizophreniaandbipolar disorderliness . One in particular , olanzapine ( Zyprexa ) , is associate with the highest potential to gain weight equate with otherantipsychotics , says Howard . What ’s more , these types of drugs vitiate glucose function and increasecholesterolandtriglycerides , putting patient more at risk of infection for developing metabolic syndrome , harmonise toresearch . Howard says lurasidone ( Latuda ) and ziprasidone ( Geodon ) , two other antipsychotics , have a lower probability of cause free weight gain .
Stephanie Young Moss , PharmD , has worked in pharmacy , residential area outreach , regulative compliancy , deal care , and wellness political economy and outcomes research . Dr. Young Moss is the proprietor of Integrative Pharmacy Outcomes and Consulting , which pore on develop underserved community on way to cut and preclude health disparity . She apply her platform to educate phratry on ways to fall and rid of health disparities by incorporate health and mental health technique . Young Moss is the creator of the websites DrStephanieYoMo.com and MenopauseInColor.com , providing practical wellness and wellness tips and resources for woman experiencing perimenopause and menopause . She has over 100,000 people in her societal media communities . She has also contribute toPharmacy Timesandshared her view on international and national podcasts and local telly news .
She hasserved on various plug-in for organizations that focus on wellness equity , decrease inexplicit preconception , plow social determinants of health , and empowering communities to advocate for their health . She has also been on the display board for the Minority Health Coalition of Marion County and Eskenazi Health Center , for which she was the clinical quality commission chair and board secretary and is currently the circuit board treasurer . She is a display board member for Community Action of Greater Indianapolis .
Jessica Migala is a free-lance author with over 15 yr of experience , specialise in health , nutrition , fitness , and beauty . She has write extensively about vision care , diabetes , dermatology , GI wellness , cardiovascular wellness , cancer , pregnancy , and gynecology . She was previously an assistant editor atPreventionwhere she write monthly scientific discipline - based lulu news show point and characteristic account .
She has contributed to more than 40 print and digital publications , includingCosmopolitan , O : The Oprah Magazine , Real Simple , Woman ’s Day , Women ’s Health , Fitness , Family Circle , Health , Prevention , Self , VICE , and more . Migala lives in the Chicago suburb with her married man , two young boy , rescue beagle , and 15 fish . When not reporting , she likes running , bicycle ride , and a glass of vino ( in relief , of line ) .
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