Some medications, 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 gain weight, these remedies should not be discontinued, and you should first consult your prescribing physician in order to evaluate the possibility of switching to another type. It is still possible that a medicine that causes weight gain in one person, not in another, due to different responses of the body.
1. Antiallergic
Some antiallergics, such as Cetirizine or Fexofenadine, while not causing sleep can lead to increased appetite, facilitating weight gain over time. This is because the antiallergics work by reducing the effect of histamine, a substance that causes allergy, but also helps to decrease appetite. So when it is reduced, the person may feel more hungry.
To confirm which antiallergics have a greater 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, since they usually do not cause changes in weight.
3. Antipsychotics
Antipsychotics are one of the most weight-related types of medications, but the most common side effects are atypical antipsychotics such as Olanzapine or Risperidone.
This effect occurs because antipsychotics increase a brain protein, known as AMPK, and when this protein is increased, it blocks the effect of histamine, which is important for regulating hunger.
However, antipsychotics are very important in the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and therefore should not be discontinued without medical advice. Some options for antipsychotics that usually have a lower risk of weight gain are Ziprasidone or Aripiprazole.
4. Corticoids
Oral corticosteroids often used to alleviate 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 who have this effect are Prednisone, Methylprednisone or Hydrocortisone.
Injectable corticosteroids, used to treat problems in the knee or spine, usually do not cause any change in weight.
5. Remedies for pressure
Although it is rarer, some medicines used to control blood pressure can also lead to weight gain, especially beta blockers like Metoprolol or Atenolol, for example.
This effect though not caused by increased appetite, is because a common side effect is the onset of excessive tiredness, which can lead the person to do less exercise, which increases the chances of gaining weight.
6. Oral antidiabetic agents
Oral tablets to treat diabetes, such as Glipizide, if not taken correctly can cause a sharp reduction in blood sugar, which can lead to hunger, to try to compensate for the lack of sugar.
