Could Prescribed Medications Be Causing Your Weight Excess?

There is a long list of medications that can cause weight gain, but this does not always occur as some people are more sensitive than others. These include some anti-depressants, tranquilizers, steroids, some oral contraceptive pills, cholesterol-lowering medications, anti-thyroid medications (Neomercazole, Propylthiouracil), some types of diabetes medications and anti-convulsant medications. Some medications can cause fluid retention, a lower metabolic rate and increased appetite.

Polypharmacy, where people are taking a lot of different drugs every day, increases the workload of the liver because the liver has to break down (metabolize) these drugs. Overworking the liver can lead to weight gain. This is because there is less energy available in the liver to regulate fat metabolism. Some medications can cause fatty liver as well as liver inflammation.

Do not abruptly stop taking any of your prescribed medications but talk to your doctor about whether your medications may be causing your weight gain, especially if there is no other obvious reason, such as eating a lot more and/or exercising less. You may be able to change to a medication that is less likely to cause weight gain.