Are Your Meds Making You Fat?

Your medicine cabinet could be making you fat. Most people don’t realize that many common drugs cause weight gain from bloating, increasing the appetite, or by slowing down the metabolism. Harvard University’s Dr. George Blackburn says that the problem of drug-induced weight gain is widespread and not often discussed between patient and doctor. In fact, he says, one in four medications can lead to weight gain. “The drugs we are concerned about are drugs for chronic diseases, like diabetes and psychiatric problems, because you have to be medicated for life,” says Dr. Blackburn, associate director of the Harvard Medical School Division of Nutrition. “If you have a 5-pound weight gain in the first one to three months taking a new medication, contact your physician.” Dr. Blackburn says that an alternative drug can often be prescribed that doesn’t cause you to get fat. Here are common weight-gain culprits: Antihistamines. A recent Yale University study found that allergy meds can cause users to gain weight. Dr. Blackburn believes that drugs like Benadryl make patients lethargic and therefore they burn fewer calories. The solution may be to switch to a type of antihistamine such as Zyrtec that doesn’t have sedative effects. Antidepressants. Some of these drugs boost neurotransmitters in the brain that boost both mood and your appetite. Paxil and Zoloft are two that cause drug-induced weight gain. Check with your psychiatrist or doctor to see if you can switch to Wellbutrin, Prozac, or Zyban, which are less likely to cause you to eat more. SPECIAL: These 5 Things Flush 40 lbs. of Fat Our of Your Body Birth Control Pills. Since they contain estrogen, birth control pills can cause water retention. Ask your gynecologist about low-estrogen pills such as Yasmin. Sleep Aids.The compound diphen-hydramine that’s found in over-the-counter medications like Sominex or Nytol slows down your metabolism. An alternative is the prescription drug zolpidem (Ambien). Migraine Meds. The antiseizure drugs Depakote and Depakene often used to treat migraines may increase your appetite. Ask your doctor about Imitrex or Topamax, medications that are less likely to be a problem, says Louis Aronne, M.D., medical director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program in New York. Dr. Aronne says one of his patients lost 50 pounds by switching migraine medications. Steroids. People taking prednisone, a common steroid used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and chronic inflammation, is notorious for making patients hungry. You may be able to treat your condition with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. If you must stay on prednisone, focus on foods that are filling and low in calories such as fruits and vegetables. Blood Pressure Meds. Drugs to control blood pressure, specifically beta blockers, can sometimes cause weight gain, says nutritionist Madelyn Fernstrom, director of the Weight Management Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. See if switching to another class of drugs, called ace inhibitors, will work for you. Diabetes Drugs. Many people with Type 2 diabetes are prescribed insulin, sulfonylureas (Diabenese, Amaryl), or thiazolidinediones (Avandia). They all can cause weight gain. An alternative to explore is the drug Glucophage. Dr. Aronne, who in addition to his Harvard position is also a clinical professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, adds that patients have to be proactive about tackling this problem. “We’re trying to educate general practitioners about prescription medicines possibly causing weight gain,” he says. “But not all are tuned in to this.”