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Strange Weight Gain? | |
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Diet Buddy - Monday, January, 29, 2007
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Strange Weight Gain?
Hi There Buddies...
Todays issue can certainly make you feel like you're
running in circles and losing the weight loss battle.
You watch what you eat, you follow your exercise routine,
but it seems your clothes are getting tighter and the scale
is reading some strange new number, showing you've GAINED
weight this month.
It can be extremely frustrating to realize that all your
hard work and efforts are not being very effective,
especially when you're trying your very best to stay on
track. While there can be many underlying causes for you
to start gaining weight for no apparent reason, this is
probably one you weren't thinking of...
Check in your medicine cabinet...you can probably find the
answer there.
Let's take a look at what different types of medications
can do to our weight loss plan and how we can possibly
avoid that extra weight gain, by Charlene Laino - WebMD
Weight Loss Clinic.
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What Is Going On?
This may be a bit hard to swallow, but a medication your
doctor prescribed could be to blame. Certain prescription
drugs used to treat mood disorders, seizures, migraines,
diabetes, and even high blood pressure can cause weight
gain sometimes 10 pounds a month. Some steroids, hormone
replacement therapy, and oral contraceptives can also
cause unwanted pounds to creep up on you.
But even if you suspect a prescription medication is
causing weight gain, never stop taking the drug without
consulting your doctor, experts stress.
"Stopping some of these medications on your own can have
very serious consequences," says Louis Aronne, MD, director
of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program in New York
City and president of the North American Association for
the Study of Obesity. "It has to be done very carefully."
Madelyn H. Fernstrom, PhD, director of the Weight
Management Center at the University of Pittsburg Medcial
Center, agrees. Even if a medication causes weight gain,
"an extra 10 pounds may be worth the trade-off of what
that medication is doing for your overall health," she
says.
Common Offenders That Can Cause Weight Gain!
While no one knows exactly how many prescription drugs can
cause weight gain, experts estimate the list includes more
than 50 common medications.
Steroids such as prednisone, older antidepressants such as
Elavil and Tofranil, and second-generation antipsychotics
like Zyprexa are the biggest - and most recognized -
promoters of weight gain, Fernstrom says.
Some other common offenders, says Fernstrom, include
the antidepressants Paxil and Zoloft, the antiseizure
medication Depakote, diabetes drugs like Diabeta and
Diabinese, and the high blood pressure drugs Cardura and
Inderal. Heartburn drugs Like Nexium and Prevacid may
also cause drug-induced weight gain.
Fernstrom tells WebMD that the medication-associated
weight gain can be modest - or as much as 30 pounds over
several months.
And in some cases, it is unrelated to the action of the
drug itself," she adds. "For example, if an antidepressant
makes people feel better, their appetite may be restored
and they eat more.
Making matters more complicated is that some drugs, like
Prevacid and Nexium, can cause weight gain in some people
and weight loss in others.
"Not all drugs have the same side efects for all people,"
she says. "You have to work with your doctor to find the
drug that's right for you."
Aronne says he warns against putting too much stock in a
list of specific drugs that cause weight gain.
"What you need to know, " he tells WebMD, "is that certain
types of drugs can cause weight gain." But in almost
every case, the doctor will be able to switch you to
another medication that has the same desirable effects,
but which will not cause weight gain and may even help
you shed a few pounds, he says.
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For example, while some drugs used to treat depression and
other mood disorders can cause weight gain, the
antidepressants Wellbutrin and Prozac tend to help people
lose weight, says Aronne, who is also clinical professor of
medicine at Weill-Cornell Medical College in New York City.
Ditto for diabetes medications. "Yes, some can induce
weight gain, but Glucophage and Precose are both weight-
neutral, while two newer drugs - Byetta and Symlin - can
actually help you lose weight," he says.
As for medications used to treat seizure disorders and
headaches, Aronne says that Zonegran and Topomax are good
alternatives that are both asscociated with weight loss.
Aronne recalls the case of one 190-pound woman being
treated for migraine headaches who came to his obesity
clinic. His team tried a variety of measures, even a
liquid diet, to help her shed the unhealthy excess
weight, but she stabilized after losing only 10 pounds.
"Then we switched her to a different medication, Topomax,
for her migraines," he recalls. "She lost 50 pounds and
has stabilized at a healthy 133 pounds. I can offer
dozens of more examples just like this."
When To Suspect Drugs Are To Blame For Weight Gain!
Fernstrom says you should suspect your medcine cabinet
is at the root of your problem if you gain five or more
pounds in a month without overeating or exercising less.
"You have to look at your lifestyle carefully and then if
you still can't explain those extra pounds, you should
begin to suspect it's your medication, particularly if you
recently started a new medication," she says.
At that point, you can check the package insert or ask your
pharmacist if weight gain is among the side effects of your
medication. But the insert may not be as helpful as you
might think, often simply listing weight gain as a
"frequent" side effect, along with a dozen or so other
side effects that may include weight loss, says George
Blackburn, MD, PhD, an obesity expert at Harvard Medical
School.
"You really need to see a doctor," and not just rely on
lists or package inserts, he tells WebMD.
Being Proactive!
So is there anything you can do to guard against
prescription drug-induced weight gain? Most importantly,
be proactive, Blackburn says.
"While doctors should be measuring your body weight at
each visit and looking for change, they don't always do
that," he explains. So if you gained five pounds in a
month, report that back to your doctor."
Even then, many family doctors may not realize that weight
gain can grow out of the medicine chest, Aronne says.
"We're trying to educate general practitioners about the
possible role of prescription medications in causing weight
gain, but not all are tuned into this," he says.
Noting that psychiatrists and obesity specialists are more
aware of the problem, Aronne suggests asking for a referral
if needed.
"But I am not talking about a self-proclaimed weight loss
specialist practicing in a strip mall; you want to get a
specialist who is of the same caliber that you would go to
for any medical problem," he stresses.
Even if you have to wait a month for an appointment, do
not stop taking a drug you suspect is causing you to gain
weight on your own, he adds. Instead prepare for the visit
by keeping a food diary of what you eat and when you eat -
"probably the best behavioral tool out there for losing
weight."
You should also take steps to help work off any excess
pounds, Ferstrom adds.
"Be a mindful eater, knowing you are at risk for weight
gain," she says.
Also, get a pedometer and start walking. "You can burn
off 100 calories with every 2,500 steps, so walking just
45 minutes a day can help offset drug-induced weight
gain," she says.
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Did You Know ???
That medication may interfere with certain brain chemicals
and affect a part of your brain called the hypothalamus.
The hypothalamus deals with the feeling of hunger and
appetite. If this is stimulated by the medication you are
taking you may become hungry and eat more, resulting in
weight gain.
From our Buddy...
My Doctor put me on Avandamet in September and since then
I have gained 13 pounds. I weigh the most I have ever
weighed in my life. I have just come back from the Dr.
and found out that yes, it was indeed the meds, and he is
very happy with the fact that my A1c is down by 4 points.
Meanwhile I have been trying to lose weight for a wedding
I am going to be in, in June. I have been working out
only to have the pounds come on instead of going off.
I am now depressed as he has told me I will not lose the
weight on this med and he will not take me off. I am
embarrassed at the way I look as I am almost 290 right now.
I am having trouble finding clothes to fit and of course
the beautiful dress I was wearing to the wedding is nowhere
near going to fit. Please help.
My Dr. is happy...my parents say if I wanted to lose it I
could...I am at my wits end and disgusted. Susan
Hi Susan...
I can certainly understand your frustration and hope you
have read above article carefully. While it is encouraging
of your Doctor to solve one problem, he seems to have
overlooked another...and that is your weight! Your extra
weight will more than likely be the culprit of a whole new
series of problems if not dealt with sooner than later.
I would most definitely print out above column and show
it to him. Hopefully he will change your medication to
something that will also help with your weight issue.
Solving one problem only to neglect another won't help
your overall well-being, especially if you are getting
depressed, and I don't blame you. If your Doctor feels
he can't help you, ask him to recommend someone who can.
You're physical and mental health is far too important to
let it slide.
You can also go online and type in "obesity specialists or
doctors" for your area, and see what you come up with.
Hope this helps and I wish you a wonderful time at the
wedding. :)
Are your meds making you gain weight? Why not take the
time to start a new discussion in our Diet Buddy Forum
at... The Diet Buddy Forum
Have a great week everyone !!!
Disclaimer: Since I am not a medical professional, any
statements in this column are strictly based on research I
have done and should not be misconstrued as medical advice.
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