Night Elf Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 When a med has a side effect of weight gain, what does that mean? Is it an immediate effect or something that happens slowly over time? Does it actually mean that hunger is increased so the person is eating more? Or is it because of water retention? Or is it something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 How about YES to all of the above. I think it can vary by medication. Some can have quick weight gain, others more slowly. Some due to increase in eating, others due to water retention or lower activity level. For some meds it is a very rare thing, for others a more common thing. You really need to look at the medication in question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plink Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 For me it wasn't noticible at first, but after 3months I suddenly realized that something was off. I switched medication and the weight disappeared within a few weeks (I was intentional about my activity level during that time). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Yes, it depends on the medication. A family member of mine gained 30 pounds over several months while taking amitriptyline. There had been no noticeable increase in appetite or food intake, but those are known side effects. Once off the drug, the weight fell off. Obviously I've no idea what drug you're talking about, but relating the specific experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Only me Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 I think it can be both. Some of the meds I've tried like Lyrica made me constantly hungry and therefore I was eating more and gaining weight. I think some of the muscle relaxers I've been on cause water retention and therefore weight gain. I'm on Prednisone now and it seems to do both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Call your pharmacist and get the specifics on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Yes, I think some medications probably alter metabolism enough that they can lead to weight gain (or loss) even when the person taking the medication continues to eat and exercise as they normally have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted January 3, 2015 Author Share Posted January 3, 2015 I am asking out of curiosity mostly. I am thinking of changing a sleep med, from Ambien to Gabapentin, but weight gain is not listed as a side effect. But when I google for it specifically, I've found some info saying it's a possibility. But the dose I'd be taking is extremely low and most of the posts I've found where people talked about it showed them taking a much higher dosage. I took the Gabapentin one night and had a 2 lb. weight gain overnight. I don't know what to attribute that to. I didn't take it again, but I really want off that Ambien, so I'm thinking of trying it again. My quest for a med that will put me asleep and keep me asleep continues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannahs4 Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Well two pound flux overnight was most definitely a water retention issue and it may have had a lot more to do with your hormones than the medication, I wouldn't write it off just yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaConquest Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 I am asking out of curiosity mostly. I am thinking of changing a sleep med, from Ambien to Gabapentin, but weight gain is not listed as a side effect. But when I google for it specifically, I've found some info saying it's a possibility. But the dose I'd be taking is extremely low and most of the posts I've found where people talked about it showed them taking a much higher dosage. I took the Gabapentin one night and had a 2 lb. weight gain overnight. I don't know what to attribute that to. I didn't take it again, but I really want off that Ambien, so I'm thinking of trying it again. My quest for a med that will put me asleep and keep me asleep continues. I take Gabapentin at a pretty high dose and am prone to weight gain. It has been weight neutral for me when few things are. I haven't lost anything either (in fairness, I have to really work my butt off to lose weight, and I have not been doing so). I would not attribute an overnight weight gain to a med taken once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto5blessings Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 [quotqe name=seekinghim45" post="6112224" timestamp="1420330959] I've gained 30 pounds since starting Lexapro at the beginning of October. I've gained 50 plus pounds on Lexapro and Zyprexa. It really socks but I need these meds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 I remember when my husband was on an antidepressant for about 6 months, to treat his migraines. We didn't even notice it much at the time, but later when we looked at pictures of him during that period, it looked like he had put on 20-30 pounds. Once he was off the meds, the weight must have slipped off. I don't remember him being hungrier. I think it was Nortriptyline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 I am asking out of curiosity mostly. I am thinking of changing a sleep med, from Ambien to Gabapentin, but weight gain is not listed as a side effect. But when I google for it specifically, I've found some info saying it's a possibility. But the dose I'd be taking is extremely low and most of the posts I've found where people talked about it showed them taking a much higher dosage. I took the Gabapentin one night and had a 2 lb. weight gain overnight. I don't know what to attribute that to. I didn't take it again, but I really want off that Ambien, so I'm thinking of trying it again. My quest for a med that will put me asleep and keep me asleep continues. Rowan gained a great deal of weight on Gabapentin, she hates it and won't take it anymore for her neuropathy. Our LLMD wanted to switch her to Lyrica with melatonin but our insurance denied it for her. So she still isn't sleeping well. Good luck finding something that works. For what it's worth, I have heard a lot of people say Gabapentin did wonders for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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