Pharmacist Sonja Keizers answers
Pharmacist Sonja Keizers answers questions about medicines. This time: did I gain weight because of medication?
I am a 66 year old woman and I take pantoprazole, xarelto and metoprolol. In the past year I have gained more than 10 kilos. Could this be because of the drugs?
Answer:
Weight gain from drugs certainly occurs. That can have several causes. For example, because they have the side effect that your appetite increases or that your body retains more fluid. It is good to consult your doctor about it; there could also be something medical going on. If you’re on the meds, I’d look at metoprolol first. This is a beta blocker that reduces the heart’s pumping power. This can cause moisture to accumulate. This can be noticed, for example, in swollen ankles and lower legs. Beta-blockers can also slow down the metabolism, making you heavier. Finally, they put a kind of brake on your heart rate. You can find out with your doctor what applies to you.
Also send in your medicine question. You can do that here.
Sources):
- Plus Magazine
