Weight Gain Drugs and What You Need to Know

Whether you’ve been prescribed antipsychotic medication, antidepressants or steroids, each causes a marginal amount of weight gain. It is the age of advertising, and the only way to sell something to you is by showing that what you have is not the best. Despite all the cries for body positivity, both weight gain and weight loss drug makers are making billions in the market. Telling the obese that they need to lose weight and telling the thin that they need to gain weight can be made into a modern rendition of the Sisyphus myth where a man is continuously either gaining or losing weight.

Weight gain drugs are often marketed to the lean and skinny as the one-stop solution to their long-persisting problems like lack of muscles, job, house, success, and a guy bullied for being underweight becomes the CEO of a company by night just by gaining a few pounds here and there. You would love to see it, but is there any truth to the claims? Why do people consume them? Let’s dive a bit, and we’ll all be wiser on the other side.

Antipsychotic drugs refer to a type of prescription medication that is prescribed for psychosis and other mental health issues. Also known as antipsychotic agents or neuroleptic agents, these medicines work by altering brain chemistry to assist with the reduction of psychotic symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, and disordered thinking. The exact reason why these drugs result in gaining weight is a mystery. However, according to theories, these drugs might increase appetite cues in users, which might lead to weight gain.

Olanzapine - (Zyprexa): 10-15% weight gain in one year

The FDA has approved this second-generation antipsychotic medication for schizophrenia, if the patient is more than 13 years old, and bipolar disorder, including manic or mixed episodes.

During a study of the effect of Olanzapine on 31 patients with schizophrenia, researchers from China found out that 24 of the patients had increased appetite. In fact, the increased appetite lasted as long as the Olanzapine treatment. On average, the patients gained 7.9 kg in 12 weeks. While both men and women had similar effects, the mean gain was much higher amongst women, who, on average, gained 9.19 kg, as opposed to men, who, on average, gained 5.9 kg.

Clozapine - (Clozaril): 12-18% weight gain in 1 year

With this drug, you might experience weight gain, glucose alterations, and blood lipids. This medicine primarily treats schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Like olanzapine, clozapine targets the same receptors: serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C, dopamine D2 and D3, histamine H1, and muscarinic M3.

According to a study published in the Schizophrenia Bulletin, Issue 4, 115 patients were studied. The researchers found that every 100mg dose increment of the drug could be traced back to a 0.48% weight increase in the patients. Other studies have also concluded that over a period of three years, patients can experience close to 7% weight gain.

Risperidone - (Risperdal): 5-10% weight gain in 1 year

Since 1994, this drug, an atypical antipsychotic, has been used to treat some instances of autism, as well as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. It increases appetite, induces food cravings and causes lethargy. It interferes with natural homeostatic processes that work to break down fat and use it as energy.

Research indicates that this drug changes levels of particular neurohormones, including “leptin”, which reduces appetite. When leptin levels fall, weight increases. Also, this drug affects the 5-HT2C receptor and H1 receptor, causing weight gain.

Quetiapine - (Seroquel): 5-8% weight gain in 1 year

Seroquel is another atypical antipsychotic drug that primarily balances the levels of dopamine and serotonin in our brain to regulate our mood. According to some studies, people gained an average of around four lbs after taking Seroquel for about six months.

During a clinical trial, children with schizophrenia gained around two kilograms in three to six weeks. In the same time period, children with bipolar mania gained 1.7 kilograms on average. In another research conducted on more than 350 patients, the researchers found that patients gained 2.5 kilograms on average, most of their weight gain within the first 12 weeks.

Depression is slowly becoming one of the more common illnesses around the world. Therefore, antidepressants are also becoming household medicines. Between 2015 and 2021, the sale of antidepressants rose close to 35%, going from 61.9 million drugs sold in 2015 to 83 million in 2021.

Antidepressants of all sorts have some widespread side effects. They downregulate serotonin, which causes cravings for carbohydrates, and they induce a feeling of dryness, leading to a thirst for high-calorie drinks. The Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in antidepressants have weight gain as a side effect as well.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs):

• Paroxetine (Paxil): 4-8% weight gain

Paxil is an antidepressant that causes weight gain. Paxil causes water retention, which can add temporary body weight without any fat accumulation, which gets resolved once you’re done using it.

• Fluoxetine (Prozac): 2-6% weight gain

This is a commonly prescribed antidepressant that causes you to gain weight. This selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor is used for the treatment of OCD, depression and panic attacks.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs):

• Amitriptyline (Elavil): 10-15% weight gain

If you take amitriptyline, you might gain weight and increase your appetite. Whether the drug itself causes weight gain or appetite goes up once depression symptoms reduce is to be seen. According to one study, people taking this medicine gained between 1 lb and 16 lbs.

• Imipramine (Tofranil): 8-12% weight gain

This tricyclic antidepressant causes weight gain. It increases the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain needed to maintain mental balance.

Steroids

• Prednisone: 5-10% weight gain in 1 year

This medicine is used to treat immune conditions. Weight gain is a side effect. Understanding physical fitness is vital in managing weight gain.

• Dexamethasone: 5-8% weight gain in 1 year

This is another corticosteroid that causes weight gain. It can also impact how much water and electrolytes, such as salt, you retain. Dexamethasone can also increase your appetite.

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl): 2-5% weight gain

Benadryl is a common cough syrup used when their throats are itchy, they are suffering from a cough, and they need immediate relief. When it comes to weight gain, taking Benadryl for sleep occasionally might not lead to significant weight gain, but chronic use of antihistamines can mess with your weight loss efforts. The reason people take antihistamines is to block histamines. However, your appetite might increase. Also, side effects like drowsiness could lead to weight gain.

Cyproheptadine (Periactin): 3-6% weight gain

One study claims that cyproheptadine hydrochloride, a histamine and serotonin antagonist, stimulates appetite and causes weight gain in healthy, underweight adults. The increase in appetite and weight gain was greater in people who took cyproheptadine. Drowsiness was another side effect.

Monitor weight regularly

You need to monitor your weight regularly. Make sure it doesn’t rise beyond a particular threshold. If, for example, your weight is 75 kilos, your weight shouldn’t increase after you take medication. If you want to gain weight, you must start working out. Here are some fitness tips for all ages that you might find helpful.

Adjust medication doses or switch to alternative medicines

If you are experiencing weight gain when you take a particular medication, change the dosage of that medication or switch to alternative medicines. For example, if you are experiencing weight gain due to taking Benadryl, you could try another cough mixture that doesn’t have the same composition.

Increase physical activity

To manage your weight, you need to also incorporate strength training and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). If you are too busy, no worries. Here are some wellness tips that suit your busy lifestyle.

Healthy diet

To manage your weight, focus on whole, unprocessed foods. Also, reduce your consumption of sugar and saturated fat so your body doesn’t experience too much weight gain. Read the Dietary Guidelines for Indians to understand what a healthy diet is.

Lifestyle changes

Specific lifestyle changes can help you manage weight effectively. First, learn how to manage stress. Meditation and yoga can go a long way in managing stress. Secondly, get enough sleep. Around 7-8 hours of sleep per night is the norm, so sleep soundly if you want to manage your weight effectively. Lack of sleep can be dicey, and working out is one significant lifestyle change you need to make. Understand the key components of physical fitness and get started.

Antipsychotic medication causes weight gain. So will antihistamines, steroids, and antidepressants. Your aim should be never to increase your weight if you are taking such medicines. Manage your weight by exercising and eating enough healthy food; unhealthy weight gain would be one less thing to worry about.

Do antipsychotics cause weight gain?

Antipsychotic medication is prescribed for mental health issues. Weight gain is a side effect.

Do antidepressants cause weight gain?

Antidepressants are supposed to help you with depression. One side effect of these drugs is that you tend to gain weight.

Do antihistamines cause you to gain weight?

Antihistamines are supposed to help with histamines. However, one side effect of these medicines is that you might gain a marginal amount of weight.