Every remedy has side effects. Most of these effects are not severe, so they really are not a problem — i.e. it is not all the time that your hair will fall out or something like that after taking a medicine. But some remedies have very significant side effects that most of people cannot even imagine, such as weight gain or difficulty to lose weight. So if you have been spending more and more hours in the gym but you do not see results, this might be the reason behind it. Below, we compiled a list of some very important explanations about some remedies and their side effects!
1. Antidepressants
Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft. The big problem with these remedies is related to the SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor), a substance that increases appetite and makes the patient starting to feel a strong desire to ingest mainly starches.
What to do: Talk to your doctor about switching these antidepressants for others that cause minor side effects and also help in weight loss.
2. Oral Contraceptives
Contraceptives influence your hormonal profile, which can cause weight gain. This happens because of progesterone that increases appetite.
What to do: Talk to an endocrinologist. There is a wide variety of products in the pharmaceutical industry; with the help of a professional you can find one that does not make losing weight harder.
3. Beta-adrenergic blockers
This type of medication is often used in the control of heart conditions and prevention of migraines. People who begin using them usually gain 4 to 6 lbs. The reason behind this problem is that one of the side effects of this drug slows down metabolism, which can cause obesity in the future.
What to do: When one of these medications is prescribed, usually, it is because this is the only option for controlling your blood pressure. So the best you can do is balance the use with a healthy lifestyle.
4. Steroids
Steroids side effects:
- insomnia;
- increased appetite;
- water retention in the body.
These are the main factors that contribute to weight gain in people who use steroids.
What to do: Ask your doctor if you can reduce your dosage and remember to avoid luminous displays such as those from TVs, computers and cell phones up to 2 hours before going to bed at night — this will help combating insomnia.
5. Antihistamines
These are usually prescribed to fight allergies and allergic reactions. But think twice before you start taking them on a regular basis. By reducing the production of histamine, they increase the appetite considerably.
What to do: Try alternative methods to deal with allergy. Neti pot and flavonoid quercetin are great alternatives in addition to other homemade methods.
6. Migraine Remedies
These medications and some others that are used to combat headache can also cause weight gain.
What to do: Find the reason for the headaches and try to end it attacking the root cause. Among the possible reasons consider the lack of adequate sleep, food and stress.
