Be careful these 10 types of drugs are quietly helping you gain weight
Many medicines have a long list of side effects on the instructions, some of which may cause people to give up taking the medicine altogether.
A common side effect noted on these instructions is weight gain.
Although this effect is not dangerous in itself, it is more or less harmful to health.
In fact, there are other drugs to choose from.
Whenever you start taking a new medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist for basic information, such as the purpose, dosage, and side effects of the medicine.
If the side effects of weight gain do occur and you feel uncomfortable with it, ask your doctor if you can reduce the dose or if there are other alternative medication options.
Of course, you still need to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise habits.
The US "Daily Health Website" summarizes the effects of ten common drugs on weight.
Tricyclic antidepressants
Such drugs include amitriptyline, doxepin, and nortriptyline.
Tricyclic antidepressants increase appetite to stimulate weight gain.
If you are taking this type of antidepressant, do not stop taking it suddenly; first make a reasonable plan with your doctor to avoid severe withdrawal reactions.
If your weight gain makes you want to stop taking these drugs, switch to another type of antidepressant under the guidance of your doctor.
Bupropion and duloxetine are more related to weight loss, while fluoxetine (Prozac) has a neutral effect on weight.
Corticosteroids
Oral corticosteroids (such as prednisone) can treat a range of diseases, from asthma and arthritis to back pain and lupus erythematosus.
This drug has many side effects, one of which is increased appetite, fluid retention and metabolic changes.
Pharmacists usually recommend that patients take food and corticosteroids at the same time.
The recommended duration of oral corticosteroids is short (such as a one- or two-week dose) to limit its side effects.
If the patient has to take it for a long time due to illness, weight gain may be more difficult to control, and he has to exercise more diligently and eat more restraint.
Antihistamines
If you have an allergic disease or itchy rash, you may need to take antihistamines.
Studies have shown that people who regularly take certain antihistamines are heavier and have a thicker waist circumference than people who do not take antihistamines.
Psychiatrists at Yale University School of Medicine in the United States published research results in the journal Obesity, showing that the side effects of weight gain are related to the use of H1 receptor antihistamines cetirizine, fexofenadine hydrochloride and loratadine related.
This is because histamine in the body turns off the hunger signal.
Conversely, antihistamines may interfere with satiety signals in some way.
Another option is a steroid nasal spray, such as fluticasone propionate.
Because its pharmacological mechanism is different from oral steroids, it is usually not related to weight gain.
Drugs to treat epilepsy
Drugs used to treat epilepsy, including gabapentin, pregabalin, and vigabatrin may increase the patient's appetite, consume too much calories, and ultimately lead to weight gain.
If you are a patient taking these drugs, be aware that weight gain is one of the side effects.
If you feel that this drug is inappropriate, consult your doctor and switch to antiepileptic drugs that have nothing to do with weight gain, such as nonurethane, topiramate, or lamotrigine.
beta blockers
Beta blockers are commonly used drugs for the treatment of high blood pressure, some of which are more likely to cause weight gain, including atenolol and metoprolol.
Although the reason is not clear, beta-blockers can make the person taking the medication feel tired, especially when taking the medication for the first time.
It slows down the heart rate and reduces exercise tolerance.
Fatigue and discomfort during the activity may make the drug user more likely to remain sedentary, leading to weight gain.
Endocrinologists at Weill Cornell Medical College in the United States published research results in Gastroenterology that this drug also reduces metabolic function.
For this reason, people who are overweight or obese should not use these prescription drugs as a first-line treatment.
In contrast, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors may be a better choice.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Such antidepressants can increase the level of neurotransmitters serotonin in the brain, including escitalopram, paroxetine and sertraline.
These drugs cause weight gain by affecting appetite; and, while reducing symptoms of mood disorders, they may also affect diet or exercise habits.
If the person taking the medicine has gained weight, inform the doctor in time.
Weight gain usually occurs early in the medication, which means it can become a long-term problem.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
These drugs treat depression by blocking an enzyme in the brain that breaks down emotional balance neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine.
It can also be used to reduce the symptoms of migraines while stimulating appetite.
Phenelzine is the drug that causes the most weight gain among these drugs.
If the patient is concerned about this issue, ask the doctor if there are other options.
insulin
If you are using insulin to treat diabetes, be aware that it may cause weight gain.
This hormone helps the body absorb glucose in the blood.
Glucose is a useful nutrient, and cells in the body use it to work effectively.
Even so, when sugar is absorbed from the blood and pushed into the cells, if it is not used by the body for energy, it will be converted into fat.
If you overeating, especially high-sugar foods (candies, desserts), you will gain weight.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you need to use insulin.
However, if you have type 2 diabetes, lifestyle changes will help improve insulin function, so diet and exercise can be used to reduce (or ultimately eliminate) the need for insulin.
Sulfonylureas
Another common diabetes medication (sulfonylureas) can reduce blood sugar levels by as much as 20%, but it can also cause an average weight gain of 4 to 5 pounds.
Such drugs include gliclazide and glibenclamide (glyburide).
Sulfonylurea drugs stimulate the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells.
More insulin in the blood will push sugar into the cells.
Finally, they cause weight gain in a manner similar to insulin injections.
Other drugs used to treat diabetes, including metformin or sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, can promote weight loss or have no effect on weight.
The type of medicine most suitable for the patient depends on factors such as medical history, current health status, and cost.
Antipsychotic drugs
These drugs are used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Compared with other antipsychotic drugs, olanzapine has the highest weight gain potential.
More importantly, such drugs can affect glucose function, increase cholesterol and triglycerides, and increase the risk of patients suffering from metabolic syndrome.
Lurasidone and ziprasidone are two other antipsychotic drugs that are less likely to cause weight gain.
Compilation/Li Lizhen