Weight gain from drugs reversible

A common side effect of many antipsychotic medications is increased appetite and weight gain, but a new study suggests that this doesn't happen to all patients. And even if they do gain weight, they can shed the extra pounds with diet and exercise, or even by switching medication. Antipsychotic medications are used to treat people with schizophrenia, and may also be used as mood stabilizers in patients with depression or bipolar disorder. The newer antipsychotics cause fewer adverse effects such as movement disorders, than did their older counterparts. However, their reputation for weight gain is worse, regardless of the dosage used.Researchers at the Dartmouth Medical School in Lebanon, New Hampshire, identified 35 patients treated with an antipsychotic drug who gained at least 20 pounds. These individuals had gained an average of 65 pounds over an average of 33 months. However, they subsequently lost two-thirds of this increase 3 to 5 years after starting treatment. At the point of greatest weight loss, at approximately 56 months, patients had lost about 41 pounds.

The study points out that it is important to make sure that doctors educate patients fully about the risks associated with whatever medication they are on. Appetite may be artificially elevated by these medications. If patients understand that appetite may be an artefact of their medication, they may feel more comfortable that it's okay not to eat in response to it. In general, patients should consider consulting a dietician and following a careful diet.

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