Taking Stock: Asking About Side Effects

Weight loss

Just as weight gain can be a problem with some medications, so may its opposite. Weight loss and loss of appetite are associated with some antiepileptic drugs. If weight loss is a concern, these are some questions you can ask your doctor:

• Is my weight loss attributed to my medication?
• Am I taking an inappropriate amount of medication? Or could I be taking it incorrectly?
• Could my medication’s generic version eliminate this side effect?
• How much is too much weight to lose?
• Could I be suffering from depression or any other condition?

On the other hand, weight loss can be connected to depressed mood, loss of interest in food, and other health conditions. Weight loss when there’s been no change in your eating patterns can be a sign of other illness. Again, let your doctor know that you have been losing weight.

Read about other possible side effects...