• Other Disease Areas
  BIPOLAR DISORDER

  ADHD

  DEMENTIA

Weight gain

Weight gain has been recognised as a side effect of antipsychotic treatment for over 30 years. However, it has come under new scrutiny as a result of the introduction of the newer antipsychotics. These new drugs cause less muscle movement problems, so attention was shifted to other issues, considered of secondary importance with the older drugs.

Atypical antipsychotics cause less muscle movement problems or tardive dyskinesia. With their arrival, attention shifted to other issues and side effects such as weight gain. These were considered less important with the older drugs.

When healthcare professionals talk about weight gain as a side effect of antipsychotic medication, they refer to an increase of over 7% of your body weight. Obesity is the excessive increase of body fat. To determine whether someone is obese or not, weight is considered in relation to the person's height. The calculated ratio of weight versus height is called the BMI or Body Mass Index. A BMI of over 25 is considered unhealthy.

As well as having serious social implications, being overweight will affect your health and increase the risk of heart disease or diabetes. Other health problems, associated with excessive weight and weight gain are lower back pain, cancer or breathing problems.

If you suffer from weight gain as a result of your medication, you decide to stop taking your medication. You should really think again: stopping your antipsychotic medication is like going backwards. It will increase the risk of relapse. Your symptoms will resurface and you may end up suffering from serious bouts of psychosis.

Although weight gain is considered a problem with antipsychotics in general, some of the newer antipsychotics cause less weight gain. These antipsychotics may still cause a weight gain of 2 to 3 kg. But, this side effect will stabilize over time, whereas this may not be the case with other drugs. You may want to discuss this with your doctor.

Living on a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help you control your weight. But you should still discuss weight gain or any side effects you may experience with your doctor and s/he may decide to change or adapt the dose of your medication. Your doctor will also be able to monitor closely how you react to changing your medication or altering its dose and help you with your treatment programme.

Search this site

Search External sites

Rate: