- 1. Antiallergic
- 2. Tricyclic antidepressants
- 3. Antipsychotics
- 4. Corticosteroids
- 5. Pressure medicines
- 6. Oral antidiabetics
Some drugs, used to treat various health problems, such as antidepressants, antiallergics or corticosteroids, can cause side effects that, over time, can cause weight gain
Although the effects that lead to weight gain are not yet fully understood, it is believed that in most cases they are related to increased appetite, the appearance of excessive tiredness or fluid retention.
However, although they may actually put on weight, these remedies should not be interrupted, and the doctor who prescribed them should first be consulted in order to assess the possibility of switching to another type. It is also possible that a drug that causes weight gain in one person, does not do so in another, due to the different responses of the body.
1. Antiallergic
Some antiallergens, such as Cetirizine or Fexofenadine, although they do not cause sleep, can lead to increased appetite, facilitating weight gain over time. This is because antiallergics work by reducing the effect of histamine, a substance that causes allergies, but also helps to decrease appetite. So when it is reduced, the person may feel more hungry.
To confirm which antiallergic drugs are most at risk of causing weight gain, it is advisable to ask the doctor or read the package insert for example.
2. Tricyclic antidepressants
This type of antidepressants, which includes Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline, are often used to treat cases of depression or migraine, but affect neurotransmitters in the brain and have a mild antihistamine action that can greatly increase appetite.
The best antidepressant options are Fluoxetine, Sertraline or Mirtazapine, as they usually do not cause changes in weight.
3. Antipsychotics
Antipsychotics are one of the types of drugs most related to weight gain, however, those that usually have this side effect are atypical antipsychotics, such as Olanzapine or Risperidone, for example.
This effect happens because antipsychotics increase a brain protein, known as AMPK and, when that protein is increased, it is able to block the effect of histamine, which is important to regulate the sensation of hunger.
However, antipsychotics are very important in the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and, therefore, should not be stopped without medical advice. Some antipsychotic options that are normally less at risk of weight gain are Ziprasidone or Aripiprazole.
4. Corticosteroids
Oral corticosteroids often used to relieve symptoms of inflammatory diseases such as severe asthma or arthritis, for example, can affect the body's metabolic rate and lead to increased appetite. Some of those that have this effect are Prednisone, Methylprednisone or Hydrocortisone.
Injectable corticosteroids, used to treat knee or spine problems, usually do not cause any change in weight.
5. Pressure medicines
Although it is more rare, some drugs used to control blood pressure can also lead to weight gain, especially beta blockers like Metoprolol or Atenolol, for example.
This effect, although not caused by an increase in appetite, is because a common side effect is the appearance of excessive tiredness, which can cause the person to exercise less, which increases the chances of gaining weight.
6. Oral antidiabetics
Oral pills to treat diabetes, such as Glipizide, if not taken correctly can cause a marked reduction in blood sugar, which can make the body feel more hungry, to try to compensate for the lack of sugar.
