why do anti psychotics make you fat?

Answer 1

There are a couple of beliefs surrounding this

1) They induce cravings for sweets, so that you are eating more high calorie food, thus gaining weight.

2) They slow your metabolism.

Either way, both methods are known to produce weight gain in the majority of patients taking anti-pyschotics.

Answer 2

Depends on the drug and the person. The one I am currently on actually reduced my appetite for quite some time. I can't actually say that it 100% was only the drug, but when I started taking it, I noticed I wasn't eating as much. I had more problems taking anti-depressants in relation to weight gain.

Also, the previous poster (Phd dude), I am a supporter of everyone having their own opinions - however, when it comes to trying to debunk medicine and the practice of medicine, I find that very dangerous. Mental illness already has a large enough stigma as it is. Yes, for some people it doesn't work or it takes many different tries to get it right. These web site links that you posted, along with Tom Crusie and his scientology rhetoric may keep someone from getting the help that they need. From personal experience, if I didn't have the meds and medical support that I have, I would probably have lost my house, been out of a job and may even be dead.

Answer 3

Depending on the type and dose, they tend to be somewhat sedating. This can either slow your metabolism, or just make people sedentary so they're not as active. Depends on the specific pill (some don't make you fat, like thiothixene) and the person. If this is really bothering you, tell the doctor the weight gain is a problem and ask if the dose can be adjusted or if there is an alternative drug.

Answer 4

My wife is a Licensed Dietitian for a mental hospital and she says it's because the medications increase the appetite. People on these medications also tend to be rather inactive under motivated. If they exercise more and eat less they can lose weight just like anybody else. She's basically giving diets to mentally ill people all day, and very few of them actually comply with the weight loss diets.

Answer 5

Same reason they make you lose your sex drive... Same reason they used to put Salt peter in the inmates food in prison to reduce their sex drive and make them fat complacent and calm... and last but not least, same reason that so many mentally retarded American citizens were prevented from having children by forced physical and then eventual chemical castration. (when it became illegal to force it physically and then eventually to force it at all.)

I think with the introduction of psych medications... They have just learned to be more subtle about their attempts at population control.


Things that make you go Hmmmmm?

Answer 6

because pro psychotics make you crazy.

Answer 7

the munchies dude!

Answer 8

http://www.cchr.org/index.cfm/8771

http://sntp.net

http://antipsychiatry.org

http://breggin.com