In our present world, a majority of people are having difficulty in managing their weight. This is largely because of our sedentary lifestyle and processed food diet. Although medicines that can cause weight loss as a side effect sound amazing, experiencing unintentional weight loss can be extremely painful and problematic. Here’s the list of medicines that cause weight loss.
Amiodarone
Amiodarone was developed in 1961 by two Belgian chemists, Tondeur and Binon. It was approved for medical use in the following year, and it quickly became a popular product to treat chest pain caused by cardiovascular conditions; however, it was banned from medical use in 1967. The following year, its usefulness as an antiarrhythmic was discovered, and it was available once again. Presently, it is enlisted as an essential medicine by the World Health Organization. It is mostly prescribed for ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation, and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. It inhibits certain electrical signals that cause the heart to beat irregularly. Amiodarone is known to cause vision problems, interstitial pneumonitis, liver toxicity, and thyroid issues. Because of an overactive thyroid, weight loss is experienced.
Brand Name: Cordarone
Atovaquone
It is an antimicrobial medication that is used in the treatment of both pneumocystis pneumonia and toxoplasmosis. It is only used in mild cases of the former condition, while it is used for the latter because of its antiparasitic properties. Interestingly, it also has veterinary uses, as it is used to treat babesiosis in cattle. While weight loss is not frequent with this medicine, it can occur. As for common side effects, it can cause vomiting, nausea, headache, diarrhea, and dizziness.
Brand Name: Mepron
Bupropion-Naltrexone
Although bupropion and naltrexone are two different compounds, they are used in combination with fixed dosages to manage obesity. Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, it blocks the opiate receptors. As for bupropion, it is an antidepressant, and when these two are combined, they work by restoring the natural balance of neurotransmitters in the brain and reducing appetite. Unsurprisingly, people start to lose weight by eating less; however, it is known to induce suicidal thoughts, and for this reason, it is rarely prescribed to people under 20.
Brand Name: Contrave
Didanosine
Didanosine belongs to a class of medicines known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. It was approved for medical use in 1991. Interestingly, didanosine is never used on its own, it is always used in combination with other drugs to treat HIV/AIDS. Its mechanism of action is to minimize the amount of HIV in the blood. The most frequently observed adverse effects of didanosine are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, and rash. Additionally, weight loss is also experienced as it causes the body to lose fat.
Brand Name: Videx
Fluorouracil
Enlisted as an essential medicine by the World Health Organization, fluorouracil is administered to patients intravenously in the treatment of colorectal cancer, oesophageal cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer. It also comes in the form of an ointment, used to treat skin warts. It works by killing fast-growing cells to prevent the growth of cancer. Weight loss is frequently experienced with this medicine because of its side effects; nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
Brand Name: Adrucil
Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine is prescribed to people experiencing the major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia, and panic disorder. It belongs to the category of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, meaning it blocks the reabsorption of serotonin, resulting in the brain producing more serotonin. As for the adverse effects, it can cause sexual dysfunction, dry mouth, insomnia, and modest weight loss.
Brand Name: Prozac
Galantamine
It is a Cholinesterase inhibitor, and it is used in the management of Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders. Galantamine is associated with extreme weight loss in some cases. In addition to that, patients have reported experiencing chest pain, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, and fatigue.
Brand Name: Razadyne
Liraglutide
Although liraglutide is an anti-diabetic medicine, it is also used in chronic weight management. As an anti-diabetic, it works by balancing the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas when the blood sugar level is elevated. When it comes to weight management, it empties the stomach and even decreases appetite. Frequently experienced adverse effects of this medicine include low blood sugar, headache, heartburn, and rash.
Brand Name: Saxenda
Methylphenidate
Largely used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, methylphenidate is a central nervous system stimulant, and it works by altering the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. The reason why it is associated with weight loss is that it causes a loss of appetite while simultaneously forcing the body to burn more calories. Other side effects include anxiety, aggression, depression, and exhaustion.
Brand Name: Ritalin
Metronidazole
Metronidazole is an antibiotic and antiprotozoal medication that is used to treat a wide range of bacterial and parasitic infections. Weight loss is among the common side effects of this medicine, along with nausea, metallic taste, and headaches. The World Health Organization has listed metronidazole as an essential medicine.
Brand Name: Flagyl
Rivastigmine
Nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and weight loss are some of the most frequently observed side effects of rivastigmine. It is a cholinesterase inhibitor that is used to manage Alzheimer’s disease. It boosts the production of acetylcholine, a chemical that enables the communication between nerve cells.
Brand Name: Exelon
Sulfasalazine
Sulfasalazine works by reducing the inflammation in the body, and it is prescribed to people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. It was approved to be medically used in 1950. Common adverse effects of this medicine are loss of appetite, nausea, headache, dry cough, and rapid weight loss.
Brand Name: Azulfidine
Topiramate
It is used in the treatment of epilepsy and migraines. Although the exact workings of this medicine are unclear, it is believed that it decreases abnormal excitement in the brain. Some of the most common side effects of this medicine are dizziness, weight loss, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue.
Brand Name: Topamax