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Part II: Diabetes Medications, Steroid
Hormones, Antihistamines, Anti-Hypertensives, Migraines
While we'd all like to be medication-free, there are
cases in which regularly taking medicines is the best option
for protecting our health. But as we saw in Part I of Medicines
& Weight Gain: Is Feeling Better Making You Fat?,
some drugs we commonly take for mood disorders and epilepsy
seem to exacerbate problems by making us gain weight. At the
least, they make the weight-concerned among us feel skeptical
about taking medicines that may be important to well-being.
Part II reviews additional common medications* that can cause
weight gain, provided to help you be an informed patient because
that makes for your best health care. Where available, weight-neutral
alternatives are listed; if none are available, you may be
able to discuss eating and physical activity modifications
with your nutritionist to help minimize medication-induced
weight gain. If you're hesitating about taking important
medications because of their effect on weight, be sure to
discuss the risks/benefits with your physician. Decisions
about medications should always be discussed with your health
care provider.
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| Insulin |
Humalog®
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Glucophage®
(metformin)
Precose®
(acarbose)
Glyset®
(miglitol) |
May decrease
resting metabolic rate (RMR), although much of weight
gain may be related to poor blood glucose control |
|
Among diabetes
treatment medications, insulin is associated with the
most significant weight gain over time |
| Sulfonylureas
|
Amaryl®
(glimepiride)
Diabinese®
(chlorpropamide)
Diabeta®
(glyburide)
Glucotrol®
(glipizide)
Glynase®
(glyburide)
Micronase®
(glyburide)
Orinase®
(tolbutamide) |
Same as
above |
Stimulates
insulin secretion; can cause fluid retention |
|
Glimepiride
may produce less weight gain |
| Thiazolidinediones |
Avandia®
(rosiglitazone)
Actos®
(pioglitazone) |
Same as
above |
May increase
number of fat cells; appears to reduce leptin, thereby
affecting appetite and energy balance; can cause fluid
retention |
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| Corticosteroids |
Prednisone® |
Nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (if appropriate) |
Not clear |
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As much
as 28 pound gain reported in half of patients receiving
prednisone daily for one year; weight gain can be rapid. |
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| Antihistamines |
Nytol®
Benadryl® (diphenydramine) |
Decongestants
and inhalers |
May increase
food intake via hypothalamic receptors and leptin regulating
system |
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| Alpha-Blockers |
Cardura®
(doxazosin)
Hytrin®
(terazosin)
Minipress®
(prazosin) |
ACE
Inhibitors:
Altace®
(ramipril)
Lotensin®
(benazepril)
Vasotec®
(enalapril)
Prinivil®
(lisinopril)
Zestril®
Angiotensin
II Receptor Blockers:
Atacand®
(candesartan)
Cozaar®
(losartan)
Calcium
channel blockers |
Not clear |
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| Beta-Blockers |
Inderal®
(propranolol)
Tenormin®
(atenolol)
Lopressor®
(metoprolol)
Toprol XL®
(metoprolol) |
Same as
above |
May decrease
RMR, increase fatigue leading to decreased physical activity
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| Migraine
Medications |
Valproic acid (VPA)
Gabapentin |
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VPA may increase appetite
and stimulate insulin secretion |
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Medications listed are used
primarily for preventive purposes rather than treatment
of acute effects. Evidence that medications for acute
treatment are associated with weight gain is unclear. |
Read Part I of Medicines
& Weight Gain: Is Feeling Better Making You Fat for
information on antidepressants, anticonvulsants, mood stabilizers
and antipsychotics.
*We heard from several of you after we sent Part I of this
FitBriefing, telling us about your weight gain experience
with several common medications. Although we researched these
drugs, we were unable to find sufficient evidence to confidently
list such a side effect in this chart. However, because this
is an emerging area, we doubt that we have listed all medications
that can cause weight gain. If you're taking a new medication
and have unexplained weight gain, it's worth discussing it
with your health care team.
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©2007
Green Mountain at Fox Run, Ludlow, Vermont. This information
is the property of Green Mountain at Fox Run. Permission
to use single copies for personal, noncommercial use is
authorized. For all other purposes, please see details.
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