why do some medications cause weight gain?

Nov 01, 2018 at 08:52 PM

My doctor gave me a medication.I looked up reviews online and several people said it made them gain weight. Some had no problems.
Why do some medications make you gain weight?
Is it because they make you hungry and make you want to eat?
or does it cause weigt gain even if youre not eating more?

Travelinglady · Nov 01, 2018 at 11:46 PM

Some make us more hungry. but others seem to somehow affect bodily processes. I read about it, but I don't remember the details. Remeron has been the worst for me.

*Laurie* · Nov 02, 2018 at 11:07 AM

I wish I knew. Frankly, I think that most psych meds really mess up the body's metabolism. When I started taking Seroquel about 5 years ago I weighed 110 lbs. I now weigh 150 lbs. Scary. I now have high blood pressure and am in chronic pain, most likely from the weight gain. I think the stuff is poison, so to speak. I am trying to come off of it, but it's a slow process.

That pdocs have stopped prescribing benzos for anxiety and sleep, and are now prescribing AP's for anxiety and sleep - I think it's truly insane.

SlumberKitty · Nov 02, 2018 at 12:21 PM

When I started taking Rexulti--an anti-psychotic, I gained a lot of weight because I was so hungry all the time. I would get so hungry my stomach would literally hurt. It's still a challenge because I want to eat even when I should not be hungry but I am hungry. I'm just hungry all the time. It's a bad side effect, but I like how it's helping my symptoms of depression with psychotic features so I'm putting up with it for now but I can't afford to gain any more weight. Kit.

Aviza · Nov 02, 2018 at 05:24 PM

I gained weight despite starving myself on risperidal. In 6 months I was up 70 lbs. And I fasted a lot. Still haven't lost it all but was taken off the med.

Mountaindewed · Nov 03, 2018 at 05:36 PM

I gained 132 pounds from meds. I went from 104 to 236 in 10 years. I had enough 3 years ago and I went off all the ones that caused weight gain. Now I’m 155 and I’m continuing to lose. I did my research afterwards and I found every med that causes weight gain and now I know to tell my doctor no if he try’s to put me on one of those.

I know someone who was very underweight and went on risperdal and in less then a month became massively obese. That happened last winter and currently she’s heavier now then she’s ever been before.

Always do your homework when it comes to meds to avoid side effects you don’t want.

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Anonymous47147 Guest Posts: n/a	Nov 01, 2018 at 08:52 PM #1 My doctor gave me a medication.I looked up reviews online and several people said it made them gain weight. Some had no problems. Why do some medications make you gain weight? Is it because they make you hungry and make you want to eat? or does it cause weigt gain even if youre not eating more?
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Travelinglady Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Sep 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 47,943 (SuperPoster!) 13 22.9k hugs given	Nov 01, 2018 at 11:46 PM #2 Some make us more hungry. but others seem to somehow affect bodily processes. I read about it, but I don't remember the details. Remeron has been the worst for me.
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Aviza Magnate Member Since Jan 2013 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,456 11 86 hugs given	Nov 02, 2018 at 05:24 PM #5 I gained weight despite starving myself on risperidal. In 6 months I was up 70 lbs. And I fasted a lot. Still haven't lost it all but was taken off the med. __________________ Son: 14, 12/15/2009 R.I.P. Daughter: 20 Diagnosis: Bipolar with Psychosis. Latuda 100 mgs.
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