Will I struggle to lose weight on the beta blocker drug propranolol?

misshoneyz2dab
misshoneyz2dab Posts: 62 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Yesterday I started to take propranolol, because I suffer from palpitations and unexpected anxieties-they are both side effects of an ADHD drug I take called Elvanse.
I just found out that unexpected weight gain is a side effect of propranolol. I really really want to lose weight (4 stones). Will I struggle to lose weight? I'm getting worried. :-(

Replies

  • richardgavel
    richardgavel Posts: 1,001 Member
    If you maintain a deficit, you'll lose weight and no medication will prevent that. Granted some medications can increase appetite or make you tired and less willing to do the "move more" part of "eat less and move more" saying. Those might make it harder to keep the deficit going.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    If you eat more than you body needs per day, you will gain. Many drugs that potentially cause weight gain do so through increased appetite. If you control calories in, you shouldn't have a problem. You may need to play with types of foods to ensure you feel satisfied though.
  • Poisonedpawn78
    Poisonedpawn78 Posts: 1,145 Member
    The drugs cannot create fat out of nothing. You have to eat too much for you to gain fat. However the drugs can cause you to retain more water for their functions. Water weight is not a problem to be fixed.

    Control and maintain your calorie goals and you will be just fine. There might be a period in the first while that fat loss will be masked by the water weight gain, if it happens at all (it doesnt happen to all people). So just trust in your logging and your effort and give it time.
  • Seffell
    Seffell Posts: 2,244 Member
    Some alpha blockers decrease metabolism. Propranolol is a beta blocker and as far as I know it doesn't. It should not have any effect on your weightloss.

    @Poisonedpawn78 Medication like these in particular could decrease metabolism and while obviously cico works in all cases, the suggested maintanance calories by mfp would be too high so the question is valid. If the person eats at their previous maintanance they will gain.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    gebeziseva wrote: »
    Some alpha blockers decrease metabolism. Propranolol is a beta blocker and as far as I know it doesn't. It should not have any effect on your weightloss.

    @Poisonedpawn78 Medication like these in particular could decrease metabolism and while obviously cico works in all cases, the suggested maintanance calories by mfp would be too high so the question is valid. If the person eats at their previous maintanance they will gain.

    Propranolol can result in some initial weight gain, due to increased fatigue, and it results in a slightly lowered oxygen uptake with exercise. People can and have successfully lost weight while taking propanonlol but they need to be aware of these changes and compensate, esp at first.
  • ericjaton5
    ericjaton5 Posts: 2 Member
    Contrary to what other people have said around here yes propranolol will interfere with weight loss.

    Catecholamine stimulation directed at adipose tissue increases expression of fatty acid metabolism genes and can increase lipolysis in vivo.

    How much propranolol are you taking? There is statistically significant difference (meaning they can see the changes in the lab). Epidemiological studies suggest that people with beta blocker prescriptions have a more difficult time losing weight also. This is typically found in the older beta-blockers like propranolol, metoprolol, and atenolol.

    So, it may be a little bit harder... but that does not mean it is impossible. Caloric restriction and dedication will still give you results.
  • GothicsDarkAngel
    GothicsDarkAngel Posts: 78 Member
    As a nurse, yes propranolol can interfere with weight loss. While it shouldn't be a massive holdout; I suggest you speak with your physician.
  • CattOfTheGarage
    CattOfTheGarage Posts: 2,745 Member
    Anecdotally, I didn't see a big difference when I went onto propranolol. I'm a fairly lazy, hungry person anyway and I didn't notice a big increase in that.

    The initial side effects - shortness of breath and chest tightness with exertion - did make exercise harder to start with, but I adapted and now exercise feels normal.

    Of course drug responses are very individual so it will be hard to predict how you personally will react.
  • MossiO
    MossiO Posts: 164 Member
    I lost weight fine on propranolol. But one caveat-if you use a fitness tracker, don't get one with a HR monitor, as the numbers will be wildly off.
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