Anxiety Medicine And Weight Loss

About 18 percent of adults in the United States suffer from an anxiety disorder, according to a 2009 report from the National Institute of Mental Health. Unlike the anxiety associated with a stressful event, the irrational fear and dread associated with anxiety disorders lasts for at least six months and gets worse without treatment. Anxiety medications may cause weight fluctuations, making it difficult to control your weight.

Anxiety Medication and Weight

The main classes of anti-anxiety medications include serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, benzodiazapines and beta blockers. The side effects of these medications include nausea, stomach cramps, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, jitteriness and drowsiness. These effects may cause you to avoid eating or decrease your hunger, leading to weight loss. However, some people experience weight gain when they start to feel better and their appetite increases. Individuals respond differently to anti-anxiety medications. If any side effects become severe or frightening, consult your physician.

Preventing Weight Loss

If the side effects of anxiety medications cause you to start losing weight that you do not want to lose, find healthy ways to add calories to your diet. Weight-loss prevention requires you to consume the same amount of calories each day as your body uses. Ways to add calories to your diet include hiding calories in foods, eating a minimum of three meals a day and performing strength-training exercises. Hide calories in food by adding powdered milk to casseroles or soups; grating cheese over your favorite dishes; or sprinkling flaxseed over your cereal or salads. Snack in between your breakfast, lunch and dinner on items such as peanut butter on crackers, cheese sticks or vegetables with dip. Strength-training exercises build muscle mass, allowing you to gain weight when consuming adequate calories.

Promoting Weight Loss

Weight gain only occurs when you consume more calories than you burn. If you gain weight on anxiety medications, you need to find ways to increase the number of calories you burn each day or decrease the number of calories you consume each day. Increase the amount of time you spend doing physically strenuous activities to increase the number of calories you burn each day. The more time you spend moving around, the more calories you burn throughout the day. Decrease the number of calories you consume by replacing snacks containing large amounts of sugars or fats with healthier, nutrient-dense options. In other words, replace foods such as cookies, chips, pastries, doughnuts, pizza or muffins with fresh fruits, fresh vegetables or whole grain foods. Limit yourself of one serving of any food you eat to further control the number of calories you consume.

Considerations

If weight fluctuations from anxiety medications concern you, talk to your doctor about lifestyle modifications that may make your anxiety controllable with little or no medication. Some mood enhancing alternatives to anxiety medication include meditation, yoga, regular exercise, adequate sleep and balanced diet. These alternatives also aid in weight control and weight loss by decreasing emotional eating habits.