Beta blockers, normally taken for high blood pressure and other heart issues, have been known to cause weight gain in a significant number of patients.According to the Mayo Clinic, the average weight gain that can be directly attributed to the medication is 2 to 4 pounds.So why do so many patients complain about stubborn weight gain, month after month, and a difficulty losing the excess poundage? NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Unlike earlier beta-blocker drugs used to treat high blood pressure, the newer drug carvedilol does not cause weight gain in people with diabetes, according to findings from a new study. Doctors aren't sure exactly why some beta blockers cause weight gain. “Increases in body weight have been documented with long-term therapy of traditional beta-blockers,” Dr. Franz H. Messerli, of St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, and colleagues write in the American Journal of Medicine. The release of the first beta blocker in the early 1960s revolutionized the treatment of chest pain caused by exertion or stress (angina). It could be that beta blockers slow your metabolism. Doctors aren’t sure exactly why some beta blockers cause weight gain. But this is a Beta Blocker and causing me rapid weight gain! As it is still running high BP (150-100), my doc added Bystolic. Weight may rise in the first weeks of taking the beta blocker and then generally stabilizes. All Rights Reserved. While birth control pills, in general, have not been linked … Weight gain. Find more health and medical information on mayoclinic.org. Insulin, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and even migraine medications can all cause weight gain, and some may even worsen the health conditions they're trying to treat. If you have severe fatigue you may want to talk to your doctor about going on a different beta blocker. If you take a beta blocker, what has been your experience? Newer beta blockers, such as carvedilol (Coreg), don't usually cause weight gain as a side effect. version 3.3.6.2.3.2Page loaded in 0.130 seconds. Don't give up. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. So it is not in your imagination. Strong performance in 2018 bolsters Mayo Clinic’s humanitarian mission, resilience... T-cell receptor diversity may be key to treatment of follicular... Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Picking up the pace with rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, Maintaining your mental health during challenging times, Click here for Mayo Clinic COVID-19 (coronavirus) information, How the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted issues of obesity, © Copyright 2021. What to do: Talk to your doctor about going on an antidepressant that’s known to cause the least amount of weight gain. Weight gain can occur as a side effect of some beta blockers, especially the older ones, such as atenolol (Tenormin) and metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL). Over the following four decades, these old dogs have learned many new tricks, from protecting the heart after a heart attack to controlling heart failure. I had this same problem earlier with Metoprolol before. Studies in animal models consistently reveal that knocking out beta receptors can lead to cold intolerance and obesity. Weight may rise in the first weeks of taking the beta blocker and then generally stabilizes. This is a side effect of some older, nonselective beta-blockers. Contraindications for beta-blockers include: I have not been on bisoprolol long enough to notice weight gain but then I am fairly slight and due to other issues had lost 3/4 stone recently. Newer beta blockers, such as carvedilol (Coreg), don’t typically cause weight gain as a side effect”. Medications that cause weight gain can undo all of your hard work to lose weight. Also, if you switch from taking a water pill (diuretic) to a beta blocker as a treatment for high blood pressure, you may gain a few pounds of weight that the diuretic kept off. As this table shows, many of the most common migraine medications can cause weight gain. Newer beta blockers, such as carvedilol (Coreg), don't usually cause weight gain as a side effect. I was recently prescribed metoprolol, and I asked about this. Do Beta Blockers Cause Weight Gain? Weight gain is a known side effect of beta blockers, particularly older ones such as atenolol (Tenormin) and metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL). In particular, conventional beta blockers can cause seizures, depression, and compound suicidal thoughts in a person suffering from anxiety. Changes in metabolism or a switch from a different type of medication are the most likely causes for the increase in weight after taking beta blockers. Newer beta blockers, such as carvedilol (Coreg), don't usually cause weight gain as a side effect. Tips. Sheps, hypertension specialist “The average weight gain is no more than 4 pounds (about 2 kilograms). A gain of at least 7 percent in body weight occurred in 4.5 percent of metoprolol-treated patients but in only 1.1 percent of those treated with carvedilol, the team reports. Beta-blockers can cause some side effects, especially when you first start taking them. Mayo Clinic. Beta blockers. Most people can and have it replaced by a more benign agent that doesn’t cause weight gain or stall weight loss. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis disruption: Researchers speculate that the non-selective action of propranolol upon beta receptors might disrupt brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis which could lead to weight gain. The results “would indicate that with regard to weight gain ...not all beta-blockers are created equal,” Messerli told Reuters Health. Taking beta-blockers can cause dizziness, cold hands and feet, weight gain, and fatigue. Dizziness, weakness, fatigue, and fainting are possible. Beta blockers are used to treat a host of conditions, including high blood pressure, heart failure, migraines, glaucoma and anxiety. I guess I am slowly creeping up to normal but I am struggling so much with feeling breathless and coughing that I am done with them. Cardiologist said, "No," pharmacist said, "Maybe a little, because it makes you tired." All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. Please name certain med, that will not cause Weigh Gain. Studies have revealed that beta blockers cause a reduction in energy expenditure of four to nine percent, which rises to 12 percent in obese hypertensive persons. The good news is that weight gain tends to occur in the first few months after beginning the drug and then generally stops. My question: Which bp meds DON'T cause hair loss? Research indicated that beta blockers and ACE inhibitors (Lisinopril) can cause hair loss, so my doctor prescribed Losartan-HCTZ 100-25 instead. Some people have more severe side effects than others when taking beta blockers. However, despite the bleak nature of this scenario, a silver lining presents itself in the form of the newly developed drugs that are now available in the market. You want to talk your doctor about getting off, if possible. Yes. Beta-blockers also affect the respiratory system, so other side effects include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. Weight may rise in the first weeks of taking the beta blocker and then generally stabilizes. Newer beta blockers, such as carvedilol (Coreg), don't usually cause weight gain as a side effect. The average weight gain is about 2.6 pounds (about 1.2 kilograms). Contraindications. However, the beta blockers that can cause weight gain usually aren’t prescribed unless other medications haven’t worked, or if you have a specific heart condition that requires taking those medications. Your doctor can help distinguish weight gain from the buildup of fluid that may occur in heart failure. Dr. Agarwal says bupropion … The good news is that weight gain tends to occur in the first few months after beginning the drug and then generally stops. Be aware that beta blockers, the very common class of beta blockers, all block weight loss. Weight gain can occur as a side effect of some beta blockers, especially the older ones, such as atenolol (Tenormin) and metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL). The average weight gain is about 2.6 pounds (about 1.2 kilograms). Doctors aren’t sure why it happens, but it may be related to how beta-blockers affect your metabolism. Beta blockers. Newer beta blockers, such as carvedilol (Coreg), don't usually cause weight gain as a side effect. He advised doctors “to avoid traditional beta-blockers such as atenolol and metoprolol in the diabetic hypertensive patient or in the hypertensive patient at risk for diabetes, and to use a beta-blocker such as carvedilol that has no detrimental effects.”. These drugs, like Carvedilol (Coreg), typically, do not cause weight gain. In general, newer varieties of beta blockers do not cause weight gain, while older varieties may cause a gain of a few pounds. Changes in body weight were tracked from the beginning of treatment over 5 months. Newer beta blockers, such as carvedilol (Coreg), don't usually cause weight gain as a side effect. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Weight gain is among one the most common reasons for a patient to reject trying and to stop a migraine prophylactic medication — even when it has been effective. The average weight gain is about 2.6 pounds (about 1.2 kilograms). Last week the doctor on the Jeremy Vine show was talking about medication that can cause weight gain and beta blockers were on the list along with some anidepressants and anti convulsants. Newer beta blockers, such as carvedilol (Coreg), don't usually cause weight gain as a side effect. Weight may rise in the first weeks of taking the beta blocker and then generally stabilizes. Researche… So I was tent camping this weekend at a place with a pool and I did the “when in Rome” thing and stripped down into swim trunks and joined in the fun. Thermogenesis is a key action of BAT that involves the production of heat following exposure to cold OR excessive calorie intake via diet. Oral contraceptives: Depo-Provera, Yazmin. Newer beta blockers, such as carvedilol (Coreg), don't usually cause weight gain as a side effect. I've only been on it a week and the shedding has increased so much! I'm not about to stop taking my medication, but I really don't want to gain any weight. NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Unlike earlier beta-blocker drugs used to treat high blood pressure, the newer drug carvedilol does not cause weight gain in … An unexpected increase in weight can be concerning for anyone. Mayo Clinic Q and A: How long do you need beta blockers after a heart attack? It means we have to eat slightly less and exercise slightly more in order to lose weight. Weight gain can occur as a side effect of some beta blockers, especially the older ones, such as atenolol (Tenormin) and metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL). It could be that beta blockers slow your metabolism. Newer beta blockers, such as carvedilol (Coreg), don't usually cause weight gain as a side effect. The researchers evaluated the effects of carvedilol as compared to the older beta-blocker metoprolol on weight gain in about 1100 patients with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. This article is written by Dr. Sheldon Sheps and Mayo Clinic staff. You need to have a mind-set to lose weight. On average, participants taking metoprolol gained 1.19 kg after 5 months, whereas there was a small and insignificant average gain of 0.17 kg among those given carvedilol. … If you're taking a beta blocker for heart failure, tell your health care provider immediately if you suddenly begin to gain more than 2 to 3 pounds (about 1 to 1.4 kilograms) in a day or 5 pounds (about 2.3 kilograms) in a week. The average weight gain is about 2.6 pounds (about 1.2 kilograms). Newer beta blockers, such as carvedilol (Coreg), don’t usually cause weight gain as a side effect. Weight may rise in the first weeks of taking the beta blocker and then … The cause of beta-blocker-associated weight gain is not definitively known, but it may revolve around lower metabolic rate, fluid retention and lessened physical activity. Weight may rise in the first weeks of taking the beta blocker and then generally stabilizes. Today, millions of Americans take a beta blocker. Yes: Weight gain can occur as a side effect of some beta blockers, especially the older ones, such as atenolol (Tenormin) and metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL). This sudden weight gain may mean that fluid is building up in your legs, abdomen or chest, which may signal that your heart failure is worsening. Due to these factors, weight gain is consistent, despite the individuals best efforts at reducing weight. Yes. Beta-blockers cause the heart to slow down and so some of their side effects can be traced to that mechanism of action. Weight gain is more likely with older beta blockers, such as atenolol (Tenormin) and metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL). Beta blockers and weight loss. This is a question about other people’s experiences with beta blockers and weight loss in the form of a little story about my recent camping trip. Related post: Mayo Clinic Q and A: How long do you need beta blockers after a heart attack? However, the beta blockers that can cause weight gain usually aren't prescribed unless other medications haven't worked, or if you have a specific heart condition that requires taking those medications. The average weight gain is no more than 4 pounds (about 2 kilograms). Weight gain is more likely with older beta blockers, such as atenolol (Tenormin) and metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL). If you feel tired one day, take a nap and then get back into the swing of things. These medicines may also cause fatigue, weight gain, insomnia, and shortness of breath, all of which can worsen anxiety. SOURCE: American Journal of Medicine, July 2007. But it’s an unfortunate side effect of many common medications. “Any weight gain is of concern in patients with type 2 diabetes because of the rise in insulin resistance associated with excess weight and obesity.”. I take Amelodopine, Besylate, Losatran Potassium, Hydrochlorothoyzoide to conytol BP. 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