The Psychological Impact of Medication-Related Weight Gain

Everly was like any other patient with chronic high blood pressure. After using one medication for ten years, she started having trouble with her bloodwork from the long-term effects. Her physician tried her on two other prescription drugs, but both caused unwanted side effects. One gave her painful indigestion and heartburn, and the other med caused severe flushing. Finally, the doctor settled on carvedilol, a medication used in patients with heart failure that also treats high blood pressure. After an adjustment period, Everly felt like herself again. However, she noticed that by the fifth week of treatment, she had experienced weight gain amounting to 14 pounds.

The once chipper and energetic Everly became depressed and tried to cut back on her diet while increasing exercise. However, when she tried to limit her food intake by cutting out food groups (like carbohydrates), she became dizzy.

She sought her doctor’s advice since the blood pressure medication was keeping her levels down without other unwanted side effects. Still, the weight gain and the resulting depression left Everly feeling helpless.

Medication-related weight gain is a common side effect of many prescription drugs on the market today. However, doctors are reluctant to make a change in their patients’ regimens if the medications are doing the prescribed jobs.

Sometimes the benefit from the drug outweighs the risk of weight gain. So, what can you do to help mitigate the increasing number on the scale? Does medication-related weight gain impact your mental health?

Types of Medications That Can Cause Weight Gain

Before we explore the types of medications that can cause weight gain as a side effect, we want to stress the importance of not stopping any medications without first consulting your physician. Many prescription drugs can have dangerous side effects if stopped suddenly.

Your physician, if he or she decides to change your medication, may have you decrease your dosage over a “weaning” period, which could last from two weeks to a couple of months.

Never stop a medication suddenly unless directed by your physician. Not all drugs that treat a specific condition cause weight gain. Both carvedilol and lisinopril treat hypertension (high blood pressure).

However, a side effect of carvedilol is weight gain, yet you could lose weight while taking lisinopril. Your doctor should discuss the benefits over the risks for all medications you are taking or considering adding to your regimen.

The most common medication types that can cause unintended weight gain include:

• Diabetic medications – insulin and certain oral diabetes medications can cause the number on the scale to rise by increasing fluid retention and body fat tissue and decreasing the glucose typically released in urine.
• Antipsychotic medications – certain medicines like clozapine that treat mental disorders cause a spike in excess weight due to a serotonin receptor in the brain that triggers the body to hang onto fat.
• Antidepressant medications – since many antidepressants target serotonin levels, they can cause weight gain by manipulating the hormone that controls not only mood but also appetite.
• Epilepsy medications – medications such as gabapentin and valproate, taken to prevent seizures may cause weight gain by increasing insulin secretion in the pancreas, stimulating appetite.
• Steroidal and hormonal medications – cortisone shots, steroid tablets, and certain oral contraceptives can cause an increase in weight due to a change in metabolism and appetite, and an increase in fluid retention.
• Blood pressure medications – beta-blockers (like propranolol and carvedilol) are a class of hypertension medications that can cause weight gain by lowering the body’s metabolism and increasing general fatigue.

Treating a condition, whether it is epilepsy, depression, high blood pressure, or rheumatoid arthritis, can be stressful enough without added side effects. Unfortunately, no medication is one hundred percent without risk. Your physician’s goal is to find a drug with little to no side effects that will manage your condition.

The Mental Effects of Gaining Weight

In many cases, weight gain is sudden. It might only be a few pounds, or it could be several, without any change in your diet or activity level. In some people, the weight gain is slow and often goes unnoticed until their physician compares their weight from past visits.

Not only do patients gain weight from the medication, but they also tend to feel fatigued. Without proper energy, these individuals are less likely to work out. Fluid retention can make a person feel sluggish and uncomfortable while trying to exercise. Combine these physical changes with a slower metabolism, and it is easy to see how depression and anxiety trigger the excess weight.

In the story above, Everly develops depression from the sudden weight gain of 14 pounds due to her new blood pressure medication. Depression and anxiety are also at the root of overweight and obesity for many people. This vicious cycle creates sensations of helplessness and uncontrollable behavior.

What You Can Do

Speak to your doctor about your weight gain if it is causing you physical, mental, or emotional problems. The doctor will weigh the risks and decide if you should try a different medication or stay with the current one.

If your physician wants you to remain on the same medication, there is hope. There are several things you can do to decrease your chances of gaining weight.

Make better dietary choices.

Since weight gain is a common side effect for a medication you are currently taking or considering, take great care in choosing healthier options at mealtimes. Instead of processed food or fast food fare, choose whole foods like complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and lean proteins. If you need to eat before taking a dose of medicine, consider a small meal that combines these essential macros like cooked oatmeal mixed with berries, flax, and Greek yogurt.

Eat smaller portions.

Learn what constitutes a serving size. This may mean using smaller salad plates instead of ten-inch dinner plates or measuring your servings. Train yourself to eyeball a proper serving to make eating out fun and less restrictive.

Move more.

The Law of Inertia states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion. To prevent weight gain as much as possible, set up a consistent exercise routine. Consult with your physician about daily walking, jogging, swimming, yoga, Pilates, High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), or cycling. Moving more could keep those extra five pounds from turning into 15 or 20.

Stay current with bloodwork to monitor sodium and potassium levels.

Depending on the medication, your weight may fluctuate when sodium and potassium levels are unbalanced. Certain prescription drugs can drop your levels dangerously, creating difficult, life-threatening situations. Keep up with all the lab work your doctor suggests.

Watch the caffeine content.

Soda and other caffeinated beverages offer your body little nutritional value if any. Soda is high in sodium, and its caffeine can disrupt your sleep cycle, making it more difficult to lose weight. Even coffee, known for its diuretic properties, can assist the body in holding excess fluid if overconsumed.

Seek counseling.

You are certainly not alone. Many people experience the same medication-induced weight gain. A therapist can point you to individualized behavioral therapy and a positive perspective regarding your weight and what is in your control. You may also benefit from group therapy sessions with others dealing with this issue.

The psychological impact of weight gain does not have to leave you paralyzed with fear or self-conscious to the point that you never want to leave the house. A counselor can help you create a plan that will include help from your physician, therapist, dietician, and trainer if needed.

Your wellness involves more than just your physical body and mental health. We want to help strengthen your spiritual life and your relationship with God as you work to overcome these obstacles.

Anything is possible with God’s help, so do not give up hope if you are gaining weight from a medication. Speak to your doctor and try a few of the suggestions to prevent or lower your risk of medicine-related weight gain.