Common Drugs Cause Weight Gain

Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Most of us struggle to maintain a healthy weight. For people who take certain prescription medications, extra pounds may be an unwanted side effect.

There are numerous medications that can do this but the most common medications that contribute to weight gain are two commonly prescribed drug classes - corticosteroids and antidepressants.

Corticosteroids include the anti-inflammatory drugs prednisone and hydrocortisone.

Corticosteroids can cause an increase in appetite, leading to weight gain. They also change the way your body distributes fat.

Some antidepressant drugs are more likely than others to cause weight gain. Tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) tend to cause weight gain.

It is worth a conversation with your physician to go over this.