Why am I gaining weight...antibiotic to blame?
abbison28
Posts: 7 Member
Last year I started taking an antibiotic for acne(azithromyzin...idk how to spell it...) Within a month of starting it I gained 8lbs. With lots of excercise and dieting I was able to loose 4 of those pounds. During the fall/winter my acne was better so I stopped the antibiotic. My weight was mainting it self pretty well without much excercise and eating fairly healthy. Now I started to have more acne so I got back on the antibiotic. I have gained 5lbs since and I'm unable to loose any...I just keep gaining. I've gained 2lbs in the last week! Is the antibiotic to blame? How can I loose this weight without getting off the antibiotic? Thank you so much!!!!!!
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Replies
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Medication does not directly affect weight. What it affects is your appetite; which means that you are eating over your maintenance if you are gaining. You don't say whether you are counting calories, using a food scale to weigh all solids, or logging with MFP. That's where to start.
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Are you trying to lose weight? Are you logging your food? Are you using a food scale? What is your calorie goal for the day?
Without knowing your eating/logging habits, it's hard to say why you are gaining weight.1 -
YvetteK2015 wrote: »Are you trying to lose weight? Are you logging your food? Are you using a food scale? What is your calorie goal for the day?
Without knowing your eating/logging habits, it's hard to say why you are gaining weight.
I usually log what I eat, I'm eating about 1,400 calories a day and riding my bike for 30 minutes every day(fast so I get my heart rate up.) During the fall/winter when I don't gain weight and maintain my weight I'm eating about 1,500 and doing next to no excercise!0 -
Buy a food scale. Weigh and log EVERYTHING that passes your lips.
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Also I don't visibly see any fat gain. My clothes all fit exactly the same. I've looked at a picture of myself from 2 years ago when I weighed 127 and now I look almost the same or maybe even a little thinner!0
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YvetteK2015 wrote: »Are you trying to lose weight? Are you logging your food? Are you using a food scale? What is your calorie goal for the day?
Without knowing your eating/logging habits, it's hard to say why you are gaining weight.
I usually log what I eat, I'm eating about 1,400 calories a day and riding my bike for 30 minutes every day(fast so I get my heart rate up.) During the fall/winter when I don't gain weight and maintain my weight I'm eating about 1,500 and doing next to no excercise!
That still doesn't answer the other questions from above. Are you using a food scale? If not, you're eating more than you think. What are your goals? Are you trying to lose weight?
Because if you're simply wanting to maintain, and your clothes are fitting the same, the 2lbs could be nothing more than a weight fluctuation due to water retention, a high sodium meal, food in the digestive tract, etc.
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@abbison28 Again, five pounds is a normal fluctuation for women of childbearing age that can happen at any time, but it is completely normal for you to weigh more than you did last year or two years ago (five pounds is not "weighing more.") You are 18, right? You're still growing. No need to obsess over five pounds.
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Are you still growing?2
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vespiquenn wrote: »YvetteK2015 wrote: »Are you trying to lose weight? Are you logging your food? Are you using a food scale? What is your calorie goal for the day?
Without knowing your eating/logging habits, it's hard to say why you are gaining weight.
I usually log what I eat, I'm eating about 1,400 calories a day and riding my bike for 30 minutes every day(fast so I get my heart rate up.) During the fall/winter when I don't gain weight and maintain my weight I'm eating about 1,500 and doing next to no excercise!
That still doesn't answer the other questions from above. Are you using a food scale? If not, you're eating more than you think. What are your goals? Are you trying to lose weight?
Because if you're simply wanting to maintain, and your clothes are fitting the same, the 2lbs could be nothing more than a weight fluctuation due to water retention, a high sodium meal, food in the digestive tract, etc.
No I'm not using a food scale. I was trying to lose weight, but now all I want is to lose like 2lbs and maintain my weight, probably around 136lbs(I'm currently 138) But since last year I've gained 11lbs from not doing anything different than taking my antibiotic!0 -
cmriverside wrote: »@abbison28 Again, five pounds is a normal fluctuation for women of childbearing age that can happen at any time, but it is completely normal for you to weigh more than you did last year or two years ago (five pounds is not "weighing more.") You are 18, right? You're still growing. No need to obsess over five pounds.
I was told by a doctor before that girls stop growing around 16. I haven't grown in height for the last 3 years.0 -
vespiquenn wrote: »YvetteK2015 wrote: »Are you trying to lose weight? Are you logging your food? Are you using a food scale? What is your calorie goal for the day?
Without knowing your eating/logging habits, it's hard to say why you are gaining weight.
I usually log what I eat, I'm eating about 1,400 calories a day and riding my bike for 30 minutes every day(fast so I get my heart rate up.) During the fall/winter when I don't gain weight and maintain my weight I'm eating about 1,500 and doing next to no excercise!
That still doesn't answer the other questions from above. Are you using a food scale? If not, you're eating more than you think. What are your goals? Are you trying to lose weight?
Because if you're simply wanting to maintain, and your clothes are fitting the same, the 2lbs could be nothing more than a weight fluctuation due to water retention, a high sodium meal, food in the digestive tract, etc.
No I'm not using a food scale. I was trying to lose weight, but now all I want is to lose like 2lbs and maintain my weight, probably around 136lbs(I'm currently 138) But since last year I've gained 11lbs from not doing anything different than taking my antibiotic!
Start using one then. With only 2lbs, you need to be accurate. I'm assuming you take the calorie info from pre-packaged foods? Those can be off by 20% according to the FDA, and typically that means more calories than stated. As I stated before, the anti-biotic could've increased your appetite without you noticing. All it takes is small mistakes here and there, and if you're not using a scale, it's virtually impossible to know exactly how many calories you were eating. So pick one up from a local store like Walmart, or even Amazon, and start there if you're struggling.
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Start using a tape measure to take your measurements in addition to weighing yourself. Muscle is more dense than fat, if you are gaining weight and not inches congratulations your putting on muscle.0
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Medications (although not antibiotics necessarily, I don't know enough about that to make any assertions) do more than affect your appetite, they can also affect water retention and metabolism. So, yes, make sure you really know how much you are consuming because we do tend to underestimate the amount of food we eat but also take into consideration the normal weight fluctuations our bodies go through in a month. My weight used to retain up to seven pounds when I was still menstruating and even now it can fluctuate 2-3 pounds. When that happens I double check whether I am eating enough fiber, too much salt, etc. or drinking enough water. For sure, at the end weight loss is all about calories in-calories out but day to day or week to week there are fluctuations. If you are doing the right thing and being mindful about diet and exercise it evens up. If not, double check your "accounting" of food/water.
Last, but not least, make sure you are getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep affects the way you metabolize some nutrients plus the longer you are up the more you probably snack. I know I do.
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vespiquenn wrote: »YvetteK2015 wrote: »Are you trying to lose weight? Are you logging your food? Are you using a food scale? What is your calorie goal for the day?
Without knowing your eating/logging habits, it's hard to say why you are gaining weight.
I usually log what I eat, I'm eating about 1,400 calories a day and riding my bike for 30 minutes every day(fast so I get my heart rate up.) During the fall/winter when I don't gain weight and maintain my weight I'm eating about 1,500 and doing next to no excercise!
That still doesn't answer the other questions from above. Are you using a food scale? If not, you're eating more than you think. What are your goals? Are you trying to lose weight?
Because if you're simply wanting to maintain, and your clothes are fitting the same, the 2lbs could be nothing more than a weight fluctuation due to water retention, a high sodium meal, food in the digestive tract, etc.
No I'm not using a food scale. I was trying to lose weight, but now all I want is to lose like 2lbs and maintain my weight, probably around 136lbs(I'm currently 138) But since last year I've gained 11lbs from not doing anything different than taking my antibiotic!
I'll give you a quick example of why you SHOULD use a food scale. One day I made a sandwich. The nutritional info for the roll I was using said it was 85g and 240 calories. I could have logged it that way. But it actually weighed 115g and was 330 calories. So just for one sandwich, just the bread alone I would have consumed 90 extra calories and not accounted for it. You CANNOT assume that what is on the nutritional label is correct. It can be off by a lot! And if you are using the label for everything you eat....imagine all the calories that are not being accounted for.3 -
If you are gaining weight you are eating more than you burn. It's possible medication affects your metabolism but you would need to see a dr. or pharmacist for that. The answer is very simple.. gain weight you are eating more than burn and lose weight you eat less than you burn.1
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From what I'm reading some people do report weight gain with azithromyzin. Talk to your doctor, there may be another alternative for your acne which will work better for you.0
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Antibiotics kill off the "good bacteria" in your digestive system along with "bad bacteria" you are taking them for. This will affect water retention, absorption of vitamins, and all kinds of things. It can also slow down your digestion meaning when you weigh yourself you have more undigested food in your system adding to the numbers on the scale. Talk to your doctor and see if these things are common for the one you're on.5
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azithoromyzin is used for middle ear infections not acne...and you wouldn't still be on it...
what is used to treat acne is certain types of BC usually and that can cause increased appetite and water retention.
I suspect it's that...1 -
azithoromyzin is used for middle ear infections not acne...and you wouldn't still be on it...
what is used to treat acne is certain types of BC usually and that can cause increased appetite and water retention.
I suspect it's that...
Yes, acne is one of the uses for azithoromyzin. It has been for over 15 years.5 -
cmriverside wrote: »@abbison28 Again, five pounds is a normal fluctuation for women of childbearing age that can happen at any time, but it is completely normal for you to weigh more than you did last year or two years ago (five pounds is not "weighing more.") You are 18, right? You're still growing. No need to obsess over five pounds.
This is what I was thinking. Maybe the antibiotic is also causing some water retention.0 -
azithoromyzin is used for middle ear infections not acne...and you wouldn't still be on it...
what is used to treat acne is certain types of BC usually and that can cause increased appetite and water retention.
I suspect it's that...
Yes, acne is one of the uses for azithoromyzin. It has been for over 15 years.
how can an antibiotic be used for acne?
I've check online
https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a697037.html
and other sources irl and can't say that I've seen where antibiotics are used "long term" and remain effective and for acne as it is not a bacterial infection.
but can't say I am an expert but this doesn't sound correct to me...will have to discuss with the pharmacist that lives in our house.
esp since the side effects listed say "decreased appetite" etc which doesn't lead to weight gain.1 -
Also I don't visibly see any fat gain. My clothes all fit exactly the same. I've looked at a picture of myself from 2 years ago when I weighed 127 and now I look almost the same or maybe even a little thinner!
So what's the problem, then? Why are you getting hung up on a number on the scale if nothing else on your body has changed?
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15485538
http://escholarship.org/uc/item/3qf1x5t6
eta: It's not necessarily a common usage, but it is definitely used for acne.5 -
this! if you feel you look better and you are only looking to lose 2 pounds (which is really just a big poop), what is the problem???1 -
cmriverside wrote: »@abbison28 Again, five pounds is a normal fluctuation for women of childbearing age that can happen at any time, but it is completely normal for you to weigh more than you did last year or two years ago (five pounds is not "weighing more.") You are 18, right? You're still growing. No need to obsess over five pounds.
I was told by a doctor before that girls stop growing around 16. I haven't grown in height for the last 3 years.
Trust me my body didn't stop "growing" till I was in my early twenties, you may have stopped gaining height since 16 but you don't stop growing into an adult, medication may increase appetite in some people but I seriously think your weight gain is most likely healthy gain as you develop into an adult now you're in your late teens especially if you feel thinner. Take care and good luck with the acne meds I know the feels and am glad the antibiotics are working for you. 3 -
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15485538
http://escholarship.org/uc/item/3qf1x5t6
eta: It's not necessarily a common usage, but it is definitely used for acne.
ah I see...it can be used...at least in the US.
I know here most girls her age get prescribed bc for that...or other methods.
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vespiquenn wrote: »YvetteK2015 wrote: »Are you trying to lose weight? Are you logging your food? Are you using a food scale? What is your calorie goal for the day?
Without knowing your eating/logging habits, it's hard to say why you are gaining weight.
I usually log what I eat, I'm eating about 1,400 calories a day and riding my bike for 30 minutes every day(fast so I get my heart rate up.) During the fall/winter when I don't gain weight and maintain my weight I'm eating about 1,500 and doing next to no excercise!
That still doesn't answer the other questions from above. Are you using a food scale? If not, you're eating more than you think. What are your goals? Are you trying to lose weight?
Because if you're simply wanting to maintain, and your clothes are fitting the same, the 2lbs could be nothing more than a weight fluctuation due to water retention, a high sodium meal, food in the digestive tract, etc.
No I'm not using a food scale. I was trying to lose weight, but now all I want is to lose like 2lbs and maintain my weight, probably around 136lbs(I'm currently 138) But since last year I've gained 11lbs from not doing anything different than taking my antibiotic!
Just a heads up in case you are one of the people that is under the impression you can maintain an *exact* body weight- our body weight is constantly fluctuating due to some of the factors mentioned above (not fat gain or loss). You are actually within what would be considered the maintenance range of your desired weight.1 -
Hearts_2015 wrote: »vespiquenn wrote: »YvetteK2015 wrote: »Are you trying to lose weight? Are you logging your food? Are you using a food scale? What is your calorie goal for the day?
Without knowing your eating/logging habits, it's hard to say why you are gaining weight.
I usually log what I eat, I'm eating about 1,400 calories a day and riding my bike for 30 minutes every day(fast so I get my heart rate up.) During the fall/winter when I don't gain weight and maintain my weight I'm eating about 1,500 and doing next to no excercise!
That still doesn't answer the other questions from above. Are you using a food scale? If not, you're eating more than you think. What are your goals? Are you trying to lose weight?
Because if you're simply wanting to maintain, and your clothes are fitting the same, the 2lbs could be nothing more than a weight fluctuation due to water retention, a high sodium meal, food in the digestive tract, etc.
No I'm not using a food scale. I was trying to lose weight, but now all I want is to lose like 2lbs and maintain my weight, probably around 136lbs(I'm currently 138) But since last year I've gained 11lbs from not doing anything different than taking my antibiotic!
Just a heads up in case you are one of the people that is under the impression you can maintain an *exact* body weight- our body weight is constantly fluctuating due to some of the factors mentioned above (not fat gain or loss). You are actually within what would be considered the maintenance range of your desired weight.
Wait! This thread was all about 2 lbs? ohh
She was talking about an original weight gain of about 8 lbs. I was just addressing the specific comment that she wanted to lose 2 more and maintain that particular weight.0 -
Hearts_2015 wrote: »vespiquenn wrote: »YvetteK2015 wrote: »Are you trying to lose weight? Are you logging your food? Are you using a food scale? What is your calorie goal for the day?
Without knowing your eating/logging habits, it's hard to say why you are gaining weight.
I usually log what I eat, I'm eating about 1,400 calories a day and riding my bike for 30 minutes every day(fast so I get my heart rate up.) During the fall/winter when I don't gain weight and maintain my weight I'm eating about 1,500 and doing next to no excercise!
That still doesn't answer the other questions from above. Are you using a food scale? If not, you're eating more than you think. What are your goals? Are you trying to lose weight?
Because if you're simply wanting to maintain, and your clothes are fitting the same, the 2lbs could be nothing more than a weight fluctuation due to water retention, a high sodium meal, food in the digestive tract, etc.
No I'm not using a food scale. I was trying to lose weight, but now all I want is to lose like 2lbs and maintain my weight, probably around 136lbs(I'm currently 138) But since last year I've gained 11lbs from not doing anything different than taking my antibiotic!
Just a heads up in case you are one of the people that is under the impression you can maintain an *exact* body weight- our body weight is constantly fluctuating due to some of the factors mentioned above (not fat gain or loss). You are actually within what would be considered the maintenance range of your desired weight.
Wait! This thread was all about 2 lbs? ohh
She was talking about an original weight gain of about 8 lbs. I was just addressing the specific comment that she wanted to lose 2 more and maintain that particular weight.
gotcha! Thanks0 -
Take a probiotic, see if that helps. From what I understand, the antibiotic cannot single out good and bad bacteria. For me I get big stomach upset while on antibiotic and usually lose a few pounds for a few days. Doc said probiotic or two yogurts a day. Might be worth a shot.1
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