a weighty issue...YIKES!

Huge weight gains reported by patients on prescription drugs - Independent Online Edition > Health: "Thousands of people who take prescription medicines for everyday conditions are gaining large amounts of weight as an unexpected side effect, scientists have warned. "

...With many of the drugs, weight gain was significant and rapid, according to the researchers. Just how they lead to weight gain varies, and is in some cases unknown. Some, like corticosteroids, increase appetite, while beta-adrenoceptor blockers reduce metabolic rate.

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"Side effects: Prescription problems

The drugs listed below are prescription medicines implicated in the new research. Each has been identified as possibly being responsible for dramatic weight gain:

Beta-blockers

Used to treat high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and panic attacks. The drugs block the effects of adrenalin, slowing the heart rate.

Corticosteroids

Generally known as steroids, the drug is used to treat various conditions, from rheumatoid arthritis to stress relief after a trauma or operation.

Olanzapine

Used to treat schizophrenia and manic episodes. Is said to help the patient stay in touch with reality. "