Has anyone ever said to you, ‘Since I started taking the Pill, I’ve gained five pounds that I cannot lose?’ Not only have I heard the phrase, I’ve also said the phrase.

The hardest part is that some medications do cause weight gain in some patients, but these are medications that we need to function and to be well. So what medications are these, and what can we do about it?

The Hormone Affect

Hormone medications are very well known culprits. Do you take birth control pills? What about Depo Provera shots? These hormones are known diet saboteurs! I’ve talked to people at random about this. I know of one woman who gained three pounds the first year she started getting Depo Provera shots. The good news is she didn’t gain any more than that. She has remained on the shots for three years, and has not had any further difficulty related to run-away weight gains. Also, I know of another woman who actually gained four pounds after stopping the Pill. And of course, there was the third individual who credits the Pill with a six-pound weight gain.

As you can see each person is very different. If the weight gain is troublesome to you, talk with your doctor. There are certainly many other drugs on the market to try. These things can easily be taken care of with your doctor’s guidance.

It is very important to remember you should never sacrifice your health to be a size four! The good news is that many people who take these medications may gain a bit of weight initially, but they eventually stop before it becomes significant (greater than 10 pounds). But, keep in mind, they can account for anywhere from two to eight pounds of weight gain within the first two years! Whatever you do, do not stop your medications.

You need them, and only your health care provider can adjust your medications for you. If the weight gain issue is significant to you, talk with your doctor first. Do not ever stop a medication without your doctor’s input and advice.

The Antidepressant Affect

SSRIs, or serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as Paxil, Prozac and Celexa, are also known to slow down your metabolism. These antidepressants have been invaluable in treating a number of mental health problems from social anxiety to post-traumatic stress syndrome. These charming little pills have saved so many people from crippling depressions. But, I’ve seen antidepressants get more and more bad press for weight-gain complaints than any other medication on the market. So, I did some research on my own and found that weight gain does not always occur in all individuals.

The Paxil Challenge

I know three sisters, close in age, that were not overweight prior to starting on Paxil. The first had no weight change at all. The second actually lost eight pounds the first month (because of its side effects); and the third person gained three pounds, and has tried to lose them, but they keep coming back to haunt her. What does this mean? You cannot always count on a medication to be the single cause of a significant weight gain. As my example illustrates, three people in the same family with the same genetics and age category (mid to late 30s), shows that these medications do not act the same in all individuals. Therefore, they cannot always be singled out as a cause of weight gain.

Take Your Medicine!

I would like to mention the importance of never stopping an antidepressant on your own. I had a very close friend who thought that Paxil was causing her weight gain, so she stopped it abruptly because of this. She didn’t want to get “fat,” so without her doctor’s guidance and direction, she quit taking her medication. The outcome was not very positive. She did actually lose two pounds. That was fine. However, her depressive symptoms returned rather quickly and severely, and she nearly lost her life in an accident because she was so depressed that she wasn’t paying attention. Finally, a very caring family member sensed that she was off her medicine, and encouraged her to take the pills and start a good diet and exercise program. My friend did this. It has been two years since that happened, and I am pleased to report she has not gained any more weight, and no longer suffers from a disabling depression.

I feel this is so important to mention this experience because I know of many people who are given these medicines, and then do not comply with their physician’s instructions because they think it doesn’t matter if they stop their medicines so they can “shed a few.”

Now that I’ve shown you what causes the problems, I can offer a few suggestions. Again, most importantly, do not stop your medications without your health care provider’s guidance. If your weight gain is troublesome to you, consult your physician about changing the medication to something that is less notorious for weight gain. Diet and exercise are critical as well.

Finally, do not worry if you are noticing a few pounds. Consider the other factors in your life; activity levels, current diet and eating habits, etc. These things are also known for affecting your weight, too. Try to give your medicines a chance. They are there to help you. Only your doctor or pharmacist can tell you if your  prescription medication causes weight gain.