Medications & Weight Gain ?!


Question: Medications & Weight Gain !?
I was just wondering if when taking a medication that can make you gain weight, is the weight gain from the medication itself !.!.!. Or does it increase hunger CAUSING the weight gain !? Example : I am on Haloperidol [Haldol] and have noticed I gained 5 pounds!. I don't feel like I've been overeating, but I was just wondering why I gained the weight then !?!? I am not overweight so I am not worried, but I don't want to become overweight!. Help !?!?Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
Both reasons!.!.!. some meds just cause your metabolism to slow down!.!.!. some meds increase your hunger!.!.!. and some make you unable to feel 'done' or 'satisfied' with what you have eaten, even once you are no longer hungry!. Haldol is generally fairly weight neutral, but everyone is different, and every med affects every person differently!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Well, there isn't a single pill that will raise your metabolism!. The advertisements that you see all day for diet pills are scams!. There are prescription weight loss pills, but they work by suppressing appetite or preventing absorption of fat!. I'm assuming there is nothing that will lower metabolism either!.

The reason psychiatric medications cause weight gain is a mystery at this point!. All you'll find are theories!. I wish I could tell you something conclusive, but I can't!. Personally, I think it just increases your appetite, makes you crave fatty foods, and makes you tired and less likely to exercise!. I've gained a little weight on Risperdal and I'm pretty sure that's why I've gained it!.

The simple solution is diet and exercise, and you won't gain the weight!. That can take some willpower, but it's either that or live with the weight gain!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

All of the above depending on how the med effects the individual!. As far as I know, it's usually increased appetite or increased appetite for sweets leading to diabetes type II!. Then again, there are some meds that can cause a metabolic change in some ppl from the beginning, and others that will cause weight gain at start up but not afterwards!. When I started Lithium, I gained about 5 pounds in two weeks!. It was gone in a month or so without dieting!. When I started Depakote, OMG, I have never been so hungry in my life - constant, non-stop, unnatural hunger!. That wore off some months and a bunch of lbs later!. My intake is down, but I'm not loosing weight like I should be!. Sucks big time!. It's a med known to do both!. I hate it, but my brain likes it!. I've rambled!. Sorry, I don't know specifics about Haldol, but since it's an old school antipsychotic, diet!. I think it might be a med prone to cause metabolic changes in some ppl!. Give it a month or two before you jump there!. Often there is a start up effect that wears off!. Of course, a really good resource should be your doctor!.Www@Answer-Health@Com





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