You know that prescription drugs have side effects. Youve seen the commercials: a woman strolls dreamily through a meadow as the disembodied voice of an announcer rattles off a list of alarming conditions. But theres something the dreamy woman and the disembodied voice arent mentioning, something youll learn the hard way as you step onto the scale: many prescription drugs can cause weight gain.
Prescription drugs can cause weight gain in a number of ways. Some drugs increase appetite, and some will make you retain fluid (water weight). Others can change your metabolism, and still others can cause fatigue and shortness of breath, making routine exercise more difficult.
Because each one of us is a unique chemical cocktail, your doctor really has no way of knowing if the drug shes prescribing will cause you to gain weight. Your doctor should keep track of your weight before you begin taking the medication, and while youre on it. If you notice something that she might notthat, say, despite your healthy diet and daily walks youve put on 10 pounds in the last monthspeak up.
Several types of medication have been known to cause weight gain: antidepressants like Paxil and Prozac; steroids like prednisone, and diabetes medications like Actos. Just because these medications have caused weight gain in other patients, though, doesnt mean they will for you. If you have concerns about a medication, ask your doctor before she writes the prescription, or the pharmacist who fills it for you.
