Can hydroxyzine cause weight gain

Down the Rabbit Hole: When Medication Leads to Weight Gain

Many medications, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, corticosteroids, beta-blockers, hormonal contraceptives, insulin, and even medications for allergy such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), cause weight gain—even considerable weight gain—in susceptible patients. Far more medications result in weight gain than in weight loss. Initially, there were only anecdotal reports of weight gain with prescription medications but the extent of the problem was delineated when Allison and his colleagues conducted comprehensive literature searches (Cheskin et al, 1999; Allison et al, 1999) almost 15 years ago and found medication-related weight gain was “under-recognized” by clinicians and sometimes resulted in patients’ noncompliance with treatment.

Source: istock.com, DNY59, used with permission

How much weight is someone willing to gain when he or she is on a medication? That question was posed by Sansone and colleagues to a sample population of over 200 Midwestern, suburban (and primarily women) in a primary care practice. For either a medical or psychiatric non-life threatening condition, this sample would accept a weight gain of about 5 1/2 pounds. If the medical or psychiatric condition involved a life-threatening condition, people were able to tolerate a weight gain of 13 pounds or higher. Of note, though, in this particular sample, more than 5% were unwilling to gain any weight.

In other words, for some, any weight gain is intolerable, regardless of the efficacy of the medication prescribed. For others, though, it is not just an issue of aesthetics: weight gain produced by medication may lead to serious metabolic abnormalities such as insulin resistance, hypertension, abnormal blood lipid levels, and even overt type 2 diabetes in those genetically vulnerable. This is particularly common in the so-called second-generation antipsychotics.

Source: istock.com, Zaretskaya, used with permission

Medications can cause weight gain in the short term (within the first 8 to 12 weeks) and the long term (several months to a year), according to Hasnain and Vieweg, in the journal Postgraduate Medicine (2013. ) There is a suggestion that those who gain weight in the first several weeks of treatment are more likely to continue to gain, though some medications like the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) result in some weight loss initially but ultimately weight gain over the year.

Why do some medications cause weight gain? There are several factors, and the more mechanisms involved, the more likely weight gain will occur. For example, some medications may cause an increase in appetite specifically by receptor blockade. Wysokiński and Kloszewska in a recent article in the Journal of Advanced Clinical Pharmacology (2014) reviewed the complex hormonal system involved in short-term satiety and long-term energy storage. These authors note that histamine h2 blockade and serotonin 5-HT2C receptor antagonism are responsible for the weight gain that is seen with antipsychotics such as clozapine (Clozaril), olanzapine (Zyprexa), quetiapine (Seroquel), and risperidone (Risperdal), as well as antidepressants such as some of the SSRIs, most notably with paroxetine (Paxil).

Because a medication such as aripiprazole (Abilify), used primarily to treat psychosis but also now marketed (and highly advertised on TV) as an adjunct for treatment of depression, is a partial agonist, rather than an antagonist, it is generally thought of as weight neutral and may sometimes be substituted for those that cause the most weight gain such as clozapine and olanzapine. h2 receptor blockade is also responsible for weight gain with antidepressants, such as mirtazapine (Remeron) and trazodone (Desyrel), or the antihistamine such as hydroxamine (Vistaril.)

Other medications increase appetite by a direct effect on the many hormones involved in appetite regulation, including leptin, ghrelin, and insulin. For example, some antipsychotics (e.g. clozapine and olanzapine) also block the action of leptin, resulting in increased, but ineffective levels of this hormone (leptin resistance) and accumulation of fat tissue. Both antipsychotics and antidepressants can also affect the levels of insulin, creating a state of insulin resistance and even an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Wysokiński and Kloszewska caution, however, that changes in these hormones may be secondary to weight gain rather than the cause of weight gain.

Sometimes, medications don’t affect appetite but rather can change (i.e. decrease) a person’s resting metabolic rate and hence cause weight gain. This has been seen with the older tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine (Tofranil). Further, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a cytokine that can also lead to weight gain with some of the antipsychotics such as clozapine and olanzapine, but also with lithium, amitriptyline (Elavil), and mirtazapine. Wysokiński and Kloszewska report that activation of this TNF-α system seems to occur early in treatment and might eventually become a sensitive marker that weight gain will occur.

Other mechanisms resulting in weight gain include drinking highly caloric beverages because of dry mouth that may accompany medication or even increased sleeping time due to the sedating effects of medication and hence less energy expenditure. Sometimes patients are taking several medications at once, and concomitant medications may interact in a way to increase weight gain. Further, ethnicity, gender, and age also contribute to differences in medications’ effects on weight. For example, some studies report that weight gain is more common in women and more likely to occur in those predisposed to excessive weight in general.

Many of these mechanisms involve mutations in specific genes and eventually genomic studies will lead to more specific individual recommendations for patients. For example, some patients are “poor metabolizers” and some are “ultra-rapid metabolizers,” according to Altar et al, writing in the International Review of Psychiatry (2013.)

Bottom line: Weight gain can occur in both the short and long term and may interfere with treatment compliance. Clinicians should monitor patients carefully for weight-related and metabolic changes, as well as educate patients regarding healthy lifestyle choices of diet and exercise. It is often possible to switch to a more weight neutral medication or be able to lower the dose of the offending medication. Eventually, there will be more widely available genetic screenings that will lead to individualized recommendations.

Source: istock.com, Vlada_, used with permission

[Value of hydroxyzine in generalized anxiety disorder: controlled double-blind study versus placebo]

Clinical Trial

. 1994 Nov-Dec;20(6):785-91.

[Article in French]

M Ferreri¹, E G Hantouche, M Billardon

Affiliations

Affiliation

¹ Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris.

PMID: 7875114

Clinical Trial

[Article in French]

M Ferreri et al. Encephale. 1994 Nov-Dec.

. 1994 Nov-Dec;20(6):785-91.

Authors

M Ferreri¹, E G Hantouche, M Billardon

Affiliation

¹ Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris.

PMID: 7875114

Abstract

A multi-centre study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of hydroxyzine in the treatment of patients presenting a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). One hundred and thirty three patients, suffering from a GAD (according to DSM III-R criteria with 6 months duration criteria), were enrolled in a randomised, double-blind, hydroxyzine (50 mg/day) versus placebo, over a 4-week trial period. By the end of the first week, the decrease of anxiety scores was significant for the hydroxyzine group, as compared to placebo (in respect of all rating criteria of anxiety). The statistical superiority for hydroxyzine continued to the end of the 4-weeks study period, and persisted at a further evaluation a week after abrupt discontinuation of active treatment. The tolerance evaluation showed that side effects were reported in 52% of hydroxyzine group versus 35% of placebo group. The most commun side effects were sleepiness (28% vs 14% with placebo), weight gain (12% vs 10%), dry mouth (14% vs 5%), loss of concentration (9% vs 8%) and insomnia (9% vs 6%). Sleepiness in the hydroxyzine group appeared during the first week and progressively disappeared later during treatment. We concluded that hydroxyzine at 50 mg/day produces a statistically and clinically significant anxiolytic effect, commencing during the first week of treatment and maintained throughout the 4-week period and after abrupt discontinuation without rebound of anxiety or withdrawal symptoms. The most commun side effect with hydroxyzine is transient sleepiness.

Cited by

The diagnosis and treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.

Bandelow B, Boerner J R, Kasper S, Linden M, Wittchen HU, Möller HJ. Bandelow B, et al. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2013 Apr;110(17):300-9; quiz 310. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2013.0300. Epub 2013 Apr 26. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2013. PMID: 23671484 Free PMC article.

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What you should know about antidepressants

Ekaterina Kushnir

treats anxiety disorder

I have generalized anxiety disorder.

For a long time I coped without pills and other help, but one day I got tired of constant anxiety and began to interfere with my normal life. As a result, I turned to a private psychiatrist.

The doctor prescribed an antidepressant from the SSRI group - these are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Such drugs are the first thing prescribed in the treatment of depression and a number of other conditions, including my illness.

The doctor immediately warned me about some peculiarities associated with taking the drug. Some of them I then felt on myself. I think everyone who plans to be treated with antidepressants should know about them.

At the same time, it should be taken into account that most of the negative effects of therapy are temporary and not dangerous, and if they do not go away, one medicine can be replaced with another. Antidepressants help many people with mental disorders and other illnesses get rid of their symptoms and return to a full life, so you definitely should not be afraid of them. The main thing is to take such drugs when they are really needed: as prescribed by a competent doctor and under his control.

See a doctor

Our articles are written with love for evidence-based medicine. We refer to authoritative sources and go to doctors with a good reputation for comments. But remember: the responsibility for your health lies with you and your doctor. We don't write prescriptions, we make recommendations. Relying on our point of view or not is up to you.

Fact No. 1

Antidepressants may make symptoms worse at first

Antidepressants can increase anxiety in anxiety disorders, as well as cause irritability and agitation - this is the name for causeless motor arousal, the inability to sit still. It's not dangerous, but rather unpleasant. This condition is sometimes referred to as initial anxiety, that is, the anxiety of starting therapy. Up to 65% of people face it.

Antidepressant-induced anxiety syndrome - a systematic review in the British Journal of Psychiatry

There is also evidence that some classes of antidepressants, including SSRIs, may increase suicidal ideation in depression in young people aged 18 to 24 years. These data are not very reliable, and in older people, the risk of suicide no longer increases and even decreases.

Without treatment, depression is more likely to lead to suicidal thoughts, and in case of anxiety, you just need to prepare for such an effect, then it will be easier to survive the attacks.

The doctor told me that in the first two or three weeks there may be an increase in anxiety, but I did not take it too seriously.

Everything was fine for the first week. After about seven days, I became nervous and irritable. And then I woke up at night and after a while I felt an incomprehensible fear. My heartbeat increased, my head was spinning, my throat was constricted. Because of this, I felt a real panic - I spent the rest of the night fighting terrible thoughts, in the morning I got up completely broken.

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8 myths about antidepressants

I have never had such panic attacks before medication - my anxiety was background, general. I got scared and wrote to the doctor, who reassured me and said that it was not dangerous and would pass soon.

After that, I already expected these panic attacks, immediately tried to relax, calm down, remember that this was just a temporary effect of the drugs. And they ended faster, and then they completely disappeared.

My letter to a psychiatrist. I was scared: I expected an increase in background anxiety, but not panic attacks. I even thought about giving up the medicine

Fact No. 2

The effect of antidepressant treatment will not be immediate

Increase the dose of antidepressants gradually to reduce side effects. They usually start with the minimum, and then bring it up to the working one. For example, for SSRIs with the active ingredient "sertraline", the working dose is from 100 mg per day. I started taking such a drug with 25 mg, and then gradually, in several steps, under the supervision of a doctor, raised the dose to 100 mg.

SSRI dosage - NHS

What doses of antidepressants will be optimal - an article in The Lancet

The process of reaching a working dose can take from two weeks to a month or more. It depends on the drug and its tolerance. I turned out to be sensitive to the medicine, it was hard for me to survive every increase in dosage: anxiety increased again, there were other side effects that then stopped. However, this is not the case for everyone, sometimes the process goes faster.

The full therapeutic effect, that is, the disappearance or a strong improvement in the symptoms of the disease, occurs some time after reaching the working dosage. As a rule, this is a week or two, although some positive changes may be earlier. For some people, this process stretches for a longer period: 6-12 weeks. Minimum initial doses of drugs usually do not work.

It is better to prepare for the fact that the symptoms of the disease will not disappear in the first weeks of treatment. And remember - this does not always mean that the drug needs to be changed, sometimes you just need to wait or further increase the dosage under the supervision of a doctor.

Fact No. 3

Antidepressants are usually taken in combination with other drugs

Another way to mitigate the side effects of antidepressants is to prescribe an additional drug along with them: for example, from the group of tranquilizers. Such drugs may have their own side effects, they should not be taken for a long time. Unlike antidepressants, some of them can be addictive. They are usually appointed for a month, but this period may be shorter or longer.

Antidepressants together with benzodiazepines work better for depression - BMJ magazine

My doctor prescribed a rather mild drug for me. However, he did not suit me. At first, it caused increased drowsiness: during the period of increased anxiety, it went away for a while, but then returned - even with half a pill I turned off and could sleep all day. And if I drank at night, I woke up with difficulty in the morning. The psychiatrist prescribed another medicine, but I could not buy it: the drug was not available in any pharmacy nearby.

As a result, I simply endured all the side effects of therapy - they were unpleasant, but tolerable. When discussing with the doctor, she called this option acceptable if the side effects of the second medicine only worsen the situation.

My prescriptions for drugs. I never used one, because there was no such medicine in pharmacies

Fact No. 4

Side effects are not always, but they are

Modern antidepressants, including SSRIs, are mild and have almost no side effects. Older drugs - tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors - cause more side effects. Doctors usually use them when milder first-line drugs don't work or when they can't be prescribed.

Side effects of antidepressants - the National Health Service of the UK

Side effects of various antidepressants - Uptodate

Side effects of antidepressants and their impact on the treatment of a large depressive disorder - the journal NATURE

STRICTIC STRICTIC OF REDITION

. effects of antidepressants - advice from the Mayo Clinic staff

Choosing an SSRI drug does not guarantee the absence of side effects - many people tolerate treatment easily, but sometimes a change in drug may be necessary.

The first couple of weeks of taking there is a risk that the state of health will be so-so - it's worth thinking about. It may be worth scheduling the start of therapy on vacation.

I work remotely, and it was easier for me: the first pill was taken on Saturday, I slept through the weekend. Then she continued to work, but refused any additional loads: housework, part-time jobs, training and everything else.

It was hard work: I wanted to sleep, then I began to worry and get distracted. I also had diarrhea, nausea, headaches, tremors, i.e. hand trembling, hot flashes, sweating, palpitations. At night, panic attacks began, in the morning I had difficulty getting up because I was in pain and dizzy.

There are mixed data on how common the side effects of antidepressants are. If we summarize them, then the numbers look something like this:

nausea - about 25% feel it;
diarrhea - it happens in 15% of people, and 5%, on the contrary, will have constipation;
sweating and a feeling of heat occur in about 20% of people;
sexual dysfunction, decreased libido may occur in 80% of cases;
insomnia - in 11% of cases;
headache and dizziness - in about 10-11% of cases;
weight gain - not all drugs give this effect. Some, on the contrary, can reduce weight. On my medicine, I lost 2 kilograms in the first month, despite the fact that I quit training due to poor health. True, then they returned back.

It can be seen that most side effects occur in less than half of the cases. In addition, in most cases they pass in the first weeks and are not dangerous.

Side effects not listed above are very rare. I was "lucky", and I faced one such - a decrease in visual acuity. Once in the morning I noticed that I see worse without glasses. A little later, I realized that something was wrong with the glasses.

I wrote to the doctor, she replied that this happens, as a rule, is not dangerous and passes, but it is better to visit an ophthalmologist. I went to the ophthalmologist, everything was fine with my eyes, there was nothing terrible, but my vision really worsened - it was not a subjective feeling. On the right eye, it was -0.5 diopters, it became -0.75, and on the left eye it was -1.5, and it became -3.5.

I was offered to try changing the drug, but I decided to wait. Vision was then restored. I have not yet gone to the doctor to have it measured, but according to subjective feelings, it is at the same level as before: I am comfortable again in my glasses.

Side effects should not be tolerated - if something greatly worries, scares or interferes with life, it is better to tell the doctor right away. The psychiatrist will be able to determine whether the side effect of the drug is dangerous and whether it is worth continuing to take it. There are several antidepressants of the SSRI group, in addition, there are groups of drugs with a slightly different mechanism of action. As a rule, doctors manage to find a medicine that gives a good effect without side effects.

If there is no danger, the doctor can adjust the dose or increase it more gradually - this often helps to cope with unpleasant effects.

I wrote to the doctor again when my visual acuity decreased

Fact No. 5

Antidepressants need to be taken long term

Antidepressants are not drugs that you can stop drinking as soon as you get better. They are taken for a long time: usually from several months, less often several years.

Anxiety Therapy - UpToDate

For example, for generalized anxiety disorder, the duration of treatment is at least a year. Moreover, the date is not counted from the very beginning, but from the moment when a lasting effect appeared from the pills. In fact, they will have to be drunk for about 1.5 years - it depends on how long it takes to reach the working dosage of the medicine.

The cost of a package of the most famous antidepressant "Zoloft" is about 700 R, enough for about a month. That is, a course of therapy will cost about 10,000 R - maybe more or less, depending on which drug is selected.

Psychotherapy review - UpToDate

Another drug of the same group already costs more than 2000 R per pack. Source: rigla.ru

The cost of an appointment with a good psychiatrist in Moscow is 3000-5000 R. At first, you will need to visit him about once every 1-1.5 months, then less often.

You can apply to the psycho-neurological dispensary at the place of residence under compulsory medical insurance - it's free. At the same time, they will not put you on psychiatric registration: it was canceled in 1993. People with disorders that do not threaten their lives or those around them are on consultative and diagnostic care. If you stop going to the doctor, he will not find out what happened: a person seeks help at will.

Psychotherapy, usually cognitive-behavioral, is also commonly prescribed to enhance and sustain the effects of antidepressants. In many cases, it improves the effectiveness of drugs, including depression and generalized anxiety disorder. An appointment with a psychotherapist in Moscow costs an average of 5000 R. For treatment, you will need about 10 sessions or more.

/psychotherapy/

How psychotherapy works

Fact No. 6

Antidepressants should not be stopped abruptly

Antidepressants do not develop dependence. However, if you abruptly stop drinking them, there will be a withdrawal syndrome. This is felt as electric current discharges while moving or turning the head, headaches, dizziness, insomnia. Many people experience symptoms similar to the flu or an intestinal virus: low fever, diarrhea, general malaise, chills. Often there is anxiety, there are intrusive images.

Withdrawal symptoms after taking serotonin reuptake inhibitors - Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

How difficult it is to stop taking antidepressants - American Psychological Association

Stopping antidepressants in adults - UpToDate

treatment, they should be canceled only under the supervision of a doctor.

Antidepressant withdrawal occurs as gradually as the start of treatment. The dosage is slowly reduced, usually at this time again a cover-up drug is prescribed to alleviate side effects. As a rule, this is the same medicine that was at the beginning of the intake.

Withdrawal is usually harmless and resolves within the first weeks of stopping the drug. Sometimes even within a few days - it still depends on which medicine was prescribed. If severely disturbing symptoms appear during the withdrawal period, you should consult a doctor.

Fact No. 7

If you need to change the drug, everything will start over

It is far from always possible to immediately find the right antidepressant - sometimes the side effects do not go away and you need to take a new one.

Changing antidepressants in adults - UpToDate

Serotonin syndrome - MSD

Most often, it is started again with a small dosage, this delays the process of obtaining the effect of treatment. The new drug may also have side effects - the same or different. We will have to wait again until they pass.

You won't be able to change the drug on your own, since all antidepressants are sold only by prescription - and that's good. Switching from one drug to another can be dangerous if you do not know the characteristics of different groups of drugs.

For example, taking SSRIs is possible only some time after the withdrawal of antidepressants from the group of monoamine oxidase inhibitors - due to the risk of developing serotonin syndrome. This is a potentially fatal condition, accompanied by a change in mental state, high fever, increased muscle tone and other symptoms.

If the drug is changed correctly, there will be no dangerous negative effects, so consultation with a doctor is required.

/psychotherapy-search/

How to choose a psychotherapist

Fact No. 8

Among antidepressants there are original drugs and generics

Preparations may be original or generic. Originals are medicines first released by some pharmaceutical company that have passed all clinical trials and checks. Generics are drugs with the same active ingredient from another pharmaceutical company, that is, copied from the original drug.

Theoretically, the action of generics should not differ from the action of original drugs. However, this is possible, since generics may contain other additional substances or the manufacturer may use other raw materials.

Due to my anxiety, I did not read anything in detail about specific drugs before I bought my first antidepressant in a pharmacy so as not to be scared and not think about taking it. I also didn’t think to ask the doctor about this question.

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Psychoneurological complications after covid: memory problems and depression

As a result, I first bought a generic because it was in stock. Then it turned out that, after all, according to the experience of my psychiatrist, the original drug often gives fewer side effects and is better tolerated. As a result, I changed the generic to the original drug - and, indeed, the side effects softened.

In my subjective opinion, which is supported by some data, in the case of antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs, you should always choose the original medicine. Moreover, the cost of originals and generics is not always very different.

Originals and generics of some SSRIs

Active ingredient	Original	Original cost	Generics	Cost of generics
Sertraline	Zoloft	About 700 R, 100 mg tablets	Serenata, Sirlift	500-600 R 100mg tablets
Escitalopram	Cipralex	3000 R, tablets 10 mg	"Selektra", "Elycea"	500-1300 R 10 mg tablets
Fluoxetine	Prozac	About 350 R, 20 mg tablets	Profluzak, Fluoxetine	100-200 R, tablets 20 mg

CERTRALIN

Original

"Zoloft"

Original cost of the original

about 700 r, tablets 100 mg

Generies

"Serenata", "Cerelift"

The cost of Jeeneriki

9000 500-600 r.

, tablets 100 mg

Escitalopram

Original

Cipralex

Original price

3000 r, tablets 10 mg

generics

“Chektra”, “Elice”

The cost of generics

500-1300 r, tablets 10 mg

Flioxetin

Prosak

cost

Cost cost cost

9000 original

About 350 R, tablets 20 mg

Generics

Profluzak, Fluoxetine

Cost of generics

100—200 R, tablets 20 mg

one remained unclaimed

Fact No. 9

Do not take alcohol along with antidepressants

Drinking alcohol while taking antidepressants may exacerbate unpleasant side effects. Also, alcohol is a depressant, that is, it has the opposite effect, and its intake can adversely affect the results of treatment.

Why you shouldn't mix antidepressants and alcohol - Mayo Clinic

Alcohol is strictly forbidden to drink with some groups of antidepressants, for example, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors: combination with the latter, for example, can lead to an uncontrolled increase in pressure. MAO inhibitors in general require a special diet - it is unlikely that a doctor will prescribe such drugs as the first antidepressants, but if necessary, he will issue a list of what is allowed and prohibited.

With other antidepressants, moderate use may not be dangerous and may even pass without consequences, but doctors still recommend abstaining so as not to increase side effects and improve treatment outcome.

The main thing is not to temporarily stop taking the drug in order to drink. This can lead to the development of a withdrawal syndrome.

/trevoga/

How I Treated Generalized Anxiety Disorder under CHI

Fact No. 10

Antidepressants are incompatible with certain drugs and have contraindications

It is important to tell your doctor what medications you are taking and what chronic illnesses you have. For example, SSRIs may not be suitable for epilepsy and bleeding disorders, and tricyclic antidepressants are usually not prescribed for those who have recently had a heart attack, suffer from glaucoma, or porphyria.

Antidepressant Warnings - NHS

Drug Compatibility Test - Drugs.com

It is also important to be careful if you are about to take any over-the-counter medicine. For example, ibuprofen, which people often take on their own to relieve pain and reduce fever. It should not be taken with SSRIs as it increases the risk of gastrointestinal side effects.

If it is not possible to consult a doctor before taking any medication, carefully read the instructions for it and your antidepressant. It is also worth informing all doctors who prescribe something to you during the therapy period about taking antidepressants.

Medications that can make you gain weight

Taking medications that your doctor prescribes for you for a particular reason may cause side effects that are not always desirable. Unfortunately, doctors do not always warn about what medications can lead to, and many would like to know what to expect from a course of medications.

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The fight against excess weight

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One of the most common drug side effects is weight gain. Let's make a reservation right away - this does not happen for everyone and not always, but you can be one of those "lucky ones" who really put on weight.

We talk about drugs that can cause weight gain. We are sure that it is better to know and take some steps in advance so as not to gain weight than to accidentally discover an extra 3-5, or even 10 kg, gained over several weeks of taking the drug.

In general, it would be absolutely useful to discuss with the doctor all the possible “side effects” that the prescribed medicine can cause in order to take timely action. This, however, applies to any side effects, and not just those associated with weight. In some cases, undesirable effects are inevitable, but there are situations when their occurrence can be completely avoided or at least made less pronounced.

Steroids

Steroid preparations can be prescribed for various diseases. They make it quite easy to achieve an improvement in the condition, but the treatment is often accompanied by an undesirable effect, including insomnia, increased appetite and swelling. All this is the perfect combo for those extra pounds to literally stick in strategic places. It is important that steroids are available in different forms - these can be ointments and creams, sprays, as well as tablets. The latter just cause weight gain the most. You can reduce your chances of gaining weight by choosing the lowest possible dose for you, as well as adjusting your diet and choosing the ideal sleep pattern for you.

Antidepressants

Many people say that you can gain weight on antidepressants. Fortunately, not everyone is gaining it, although this, of course, is quite real. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors pose the greatest danger in this regard, so if you are taking drugs whose active ingredient belongs to this class of substances, be careful.

The fact is that such drugs not only improve your mood and help you feel less depressed, but also increase your appetite. And here the connection is quite obvious: you want to eat more - you eat more - your weight increases.

If you are prone to weight gain, then discuss with your doctor in advance that you are worried about the fact that he will become more - it is likely that he will be able to choose another suitable drug for you.

Birth control pills

Oral contraceptives have many side effects, some of which are quite pleasant and desirable. But, let's not hide, weight gain is not included in this list for everyone.

It works like this: progesterone, which is part of birth control pills, increases appetite, which causes women to eat more and gain weight. Another possible mechanism is that while taking contraceptives, the body begins to more actively retain water, and the weight also goes up because of this.

Antihistamines

Popular antihistamine-based allergy medications are most often not available by prescription. They can be prescribed by a doctor, but many people buy these drugs on their own initiative and choose the dosage on their own.

In addition to the fact that the selection of medicines still has to be handled by a specialist, there is another danger lurking here. All the same kilograms that you can gain. Taking allergy medications frequently can lead to weight gain. This happens more often in women than in men. If you notice that you are really gaining weight on the background of a course of antihistamines, but at least try to change the dosage form: the spray in this case will be much less dangerous than tablets.

Blood pressure medications

Drugs prescribed for hypertension, such as beta-blockers and angiotensin receptor blockers, also affect weight. Unfortunately, in the case of such drugs, the choice is not too rich. There is nothing to replace them and cancel, most likely, the doctor will not allow. And this means that in order to prevent gaining extra pounds, you will have to carefully monitor your lifestyle, adjust your diet and try to introduce at least a minimum of physical activity into your daily routine.

Medicines for migraine

The pain of migraine is terrible and excruciating, so to find that this or that medicine really helps with these nightmarish headaches is priceless. People who suffer from migraines are often ready to go to great lengths to improve their condition, and they may not even notice such "little things" as weight gain while taking medication.

However, in any case, for those who suffer from migraines, it is important to monitor their condition, minimize or completely eliminate the influence of triggers that can provoke a migraine attack.

Learn more

Can hydroxyzine cause weight gain

Down the Rabbit Hole: When Medication Leads to Weight Gain

[Value of hydroxyzine in generalized anxiety disorder: controlled double-blind study versus placebo]

Affiliation

Authors

Affiliation

Abstract

Similar articles

Cited by

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

What you should know about antidepressants

See a doctor

Originals and generics of some SSRIs

Medications that can make you gain weight

Steroids

Antidepressants

Birth control pills

Antihistamines

Blood pressure medications

Medicines for migraine