Medical conditions, medications, and weight loss

I have hypothyroidism which slows down my metabolism greatly, pretty much to a stand still when I'm not medicated. Different hormones also affect weight loss, some women when they are on certain birth control pills gain weight because of the hormone shift introduced from the birth control.

how it works, scientifically, is people in the clinical trials report that they gained weight, and then that is reported as a side effect of the medication

It is very rare that scientists spend any time elucidating the mechanisms by which a particular drug causes weight gain. There are some KNOWN cases of course, like steroids... (for asthma, allergic reactions and autoimmune disease, etc)

Yes. LMGTFY.

There are some KNOWN cases of course, like steroids... (for asthma, allergic reactions and autoimmune disease, etc)

This is true. My daughter always gains a pound or two if she has been through a heavy course of steroids for her asthma. She is only 2, so 1-2 pounds is quite a lot. She eats the same foods during these times, but less of them, so it has to be more than calories in vs calories out at play. (Not that I have ever weigh her myself, her pediatrician monitors her growth very closely.)

I was on a Good dose (60mg) Prednisone for 6 months (for Lupus) and it not only makes your metabolism slow but also gave my more energy which made my hungrier and I wanted everything under the sun.

I also have Hashimotos. It kills my metabolism and requires me to take meds to try to adjust but even with hard work and carefully diet, I'm not losing like I want to. The only thing I can do is to keep at it, slow and steady and know that eventually, I'll get there. It's going to take longer and be harder than for most people but the end result is still worth it. I'm hoping that when I get down to where I need to be that I'll be able to carefully maintain it. It will probably be a life long battle, which is why I'm going the MFP route instead of the diet pills and crap I could do. It needs to be a life-long lifestyle to have hopes of succeeding and being healthy.

My issue is a fairly severe case of Mitral Valve Prolapse with regurgitation, which does not directly affect the calories in/calories out, however, my medication to alleviate the symptoms does.

I am on a beta blocker, a medication which lowers my resting heart rate significantly. There is some indication that this lowers my BMR as well, however, there's not a lot of science being done on this. My biggest issue is exercise. My HR cannot get above 130 for any extended period of time without pain, so intense cardio is a problem for me (meaning large burns in reasonable time periods don't happen).

When I do cardio, it has to be longer lower-impact cardio to do the same burn.

http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/mayo/research/endocrinology_research/index.cfm



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“In many cases a drug increases appetite or makes people crave certain foods”

“Weight gain associated with the use of insulin is probably due to the fact that insulin can lead to periods of hypoglycemia, which stimulates appetite”

“Some drugs alter metabolism, causing the body to burn calories more slowly or to store fat.

“Some corticosteroids make the body less able to absorb blood glucose, and this can lead to fat deposits in the trunk and weight gain.”

“Other medications produce fatigue or shortness of breath, making the person less active (the antihypertensive drugs known as beta-blockers are thought to have this effect), or can cause water retention (a side effect of antihypertensive calcium channel blockers)”

http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/prescription_drugs/JohnsHopkinsPrescriptionsDrugsHealthAlert_656-1.html

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR: You may be advised to stop taking the medication, switch to one associated with less or no weight gain or even weight loss or take a lower dose.

***YOU ALSO MY NEED TO CHANGE YOUR EATING HABITS AND BOOST PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ***

I have both a thyroid problem (which kills your metabolism... in my case, anyway. Sometimes thyroid issues can make you LOSE weight fast, by boosting your metabolism.) and am on medication that makes me HUNGRY!! For a depression disorder, which also makes me more at risk for depression eating. Also hormone issues.

so basically i'm screwed.

but how it works for me: Thyroid issue, low metabolism. Medication makes me hungry more often, so I naturally am eating more than others. It takes me more to curb this bad habit, though I daresay I'm doing quite well now, but it's very hard and easy to fall off the wagon, where for otehrs it is a big easier. Depression, again, if I have depressive fits or skip my medicine, I'm prone to binge eating. 2 psychological, and 1 physiological issue.

Like other people have stated some medications have an effect on the metabolism, causing weight gain without significant behavioral changes in diet or activity level. The effect can sometimes be mitigated with upping activity level & being strict about diet (not dieting), but the level of effect depends on the dosage and the individual's chemistry/physiology.

Other medications cause an increase in appetite and/or lethargy. With these types of medication it is possible to avoid weight gain by maintaining the same diet and exercise routine as prior to taking the pills (as long as the person was happy with their fitness level & weight). Many anti-depressants (dual re-uptake inhibitors & tricyclics for example) can have this effect in some people. However, for others they can have the opposite effect, decreasing appetite and/or making people feel "speedy".

If people have concerns about weight gain associated with medication they should consult a physician and ask if the side effect is a result something that can be controlled (increased appetite) or something that is more difficult to control (slowed metabolism). Most physicians are sympathetic to health and body images issues and can help people manage the side-effects or even suggest alternative medications. When I see a new clinician I openly state that I have serious emotional problems surrounding my weight and that taking medications that cause weight gain outside of behavioral changes is too stressful for me. Since the only medications I have needed to take are for bi-polar disorder and insomnia, most clinicians I have interacted with have been willing to work with me to find alternatives.

Hope this adds to the information pool!