For the past 3 years, I have gained 40 pounds because of my medication. How do I know which one is the cause and if I can stop it?

Question

Hello, I am 26 years old and it is with great shame that I bring this up, but my family doctor has prescribed several medications that have caused different problems over the years, I am at the point where I don't know which ones really work and which ones I could do without. However, my problem with my use of these medications has resulted in significant weight gain over the past three years. In fact, we are talking about a weight gain of 40 pounds, going from 120lbs to my current weight of 160lbs. I am 5 feet 6 inches tall. I am writing to you with the hope that you will be able to help me identify the medication(s) that have caused this situation which has a great impact on my daily life. Here is the list of medications that I take daily: 1. 25 mg Quetiapine (fast acting). 2. Quetiapine XR 50mg (extended release). 3. Fetzima 60mh. 4. Synthroid 25mg. 5. Sertraline 50mg. I'm writing this because I run regularly and eat well. By the way, I have completely lost my appetite as a side effect of one of the medications. So I don't understand why my weight keeps increasing? Is there one of the medications I take daily that causes such a significant weight gain in other patients using the same medication as me?

Alexandre Chagnon · Accepted Answer

Hello Ma'am, All of your medications could affect your weight. In fact, quetiapine and mood medications (Fetzima, Sertraline) are known to alter patients' appetites and contribute to weight gain. Synthroid, when too low in dose, can also cause weight gain. To properly identify the most likely cause in your medications (the one(s) that caused the weight gain AND the loss of appetite), you should instead look at the timeline of how the different medications add up over time. Thus, you would need to put each of the medications in order, starting with the one you have been taking the longest, and try to remember when exactly the weight gain and loss of appetite occurred. Of course, we should not pretend that only your medications are at fault here. But it is true that they may have contributed. Once the order is established, a discussion should be held with your pharmacist and doctor to see if your symptoms are well enough controlled to try to reduce some fear of one of the medications (the one identified as the most likely cause of your weight gain, for example). A gradual stop is then attempted if your situation allows.