How to Recognize Medications That May Cause Overeating

Some prescription medicines are known to ease weight gain, but there are others that actually cause patients to overeat. Knowing the side effects before you start taking the medication can help you moderate your eating.

Instructions

Recognize Medications That May Cause Overeating

• 1

  Discuss the side effects of a medication at length with your doctor before agreeing to fill the prescription. Often there is another kind of medication you can take or some preventative measures you can use so you don't end up overeating and gaining weight.

• 2

  Recognize that antidepressants that are not part of the new generation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may cause one to overeat. If you can't take an SSRI for your illness, ask your doctor about the older class of medications, which include tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

• 3

  Ask your doctor about lower-dose oral contraceptives if you notice yourself gaining weight. Some contraceptives, such as Yasmin and Mircette, won't change your hormone levels as much as a high-dose pill, reducing the likelihood you will overeat. For more information on the differences between birth control hormone levels, visit the University of Maryland website (see Resources below).

Prevent Weight Gain While on Medications

• 4

  Identify whether or not you're on a medication that may make you gain weight. If you are, talk to your doctor and go online to find information about how others keep the weight off. Sometimes avoiding certain foods can help.

• 5

  Change your diet. Remember that dessert and fast foods aren't meant to be eaten every day, and try to get your daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. Make this more fun by going berry picking or buying your produce at a farm market.

• 6

  Exercise. Even taking a 30-minute walk three times a week can make a difference. If you aren't able to schedule exercise, try tricks like taking the stairs and parking further away from the entrance of a store to get more walking into your routine.