Dr. Roach

DEAR DR. ROACH:

I was wondering whether Ozempic might be prescribed for somebody who gained weight due to antipsychotics or drugs for depression. I read some years ago that the weight gain associated with antipsychotics had something to do with blood sugar levels (or some other metabolic reason). — K.

ANSWER: You are quite right that many medications, including some antipsychotic and antidepressant medicines, are commonly associated with weight gain. There are many mechanisms at work here, but the blood sugar increase is probably secondary to the weight gain, rather than the other way around. Some medicines are worse than others, so a wise prescriber chooses the least-harmful option when possible.