Does Medication Make You Gain Weight?

One of the most common—and least talked about—questions people ask is: does medication make you gain weight even when nothing else has changed?

If you’re taking medication for your mental health, hormones, or chronic conditions and you’ve noticed the number on the scale creeping up, you’re not imagining things—and you’re definitely not alone.

This is a deeply personal and often emotional topic, because while medication can be essential and even life-saving, the physical side effects can quietly impact confidence, self-esteem, and emotional wellbeing.

How Medication Can Affect Weight

Many medications—especially antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood stabilisers, and hormone treatments—can influence weight in several ways:

• Slowing metabolism
• Increasing appetite or cravings
• Disrupting blood sugar balance
• Affecting insulin sensitivity
• Altering stress hormones like cortisol
• Increasing fatigue, making movement harder

So when people ask can medication cause weight gain, the answer is yes—for some individuals, it absolutely can. And this weight gain often happens gradually, which makes it even more frustrating and confusing.

The Emotional Toll of Medication-Related Weight Gain

For many people, the emotional impact can be just as challenging as the physical changes.

You start medication to feel better mentally…
Your body begins to change…
Your confidence drops and your mood suffers…
And suddenly, you’re caught in a cycle that feels impossible to escape.

This doesn’t mean the medication is “bad” or that you shouldn’t be taking it. It simply means your body may need additional support—especially if weight gain is affecting your mental health, motivation, or sense of self.

And it’s important to say this clearly: there is no shame in needing medication. Taking care of your mental health is an act of strength. But it’s also okay to say, “I want to support my body while I’m on this journey.”

Supporting Your Body While on Medication

The goal isn’t extreme dieting or punishing exercise. True support focuses on gently helping your body rebalance—especially your hormones, metabolism, and stress response.

This is where natural, daily support can make a meaningful difference.

Many people choose to add Colab Day & Night Drops Snaps into their routine as part of a more compassionate approach to weight and wellbeing.

These drops are designed to work with your body, not against it:

• Supporting metabolic function
• Helping regulate appetite and cravings
• Assisting with stress and cortisol balance
• Encouraging fat-burning during the day
• Supporting rest, recovery, and hormonal regulation at night

When stress hormones are constantly elevated—as they often are when mental health is challenged—your body is more likely to hold onto weight. Supporting this stress-weight connection is key.

You’re Not Failing—Your Body Is Responding

If you’ve been wondering, “Why am I gaining weight when I’m doing my best?”—please know this:

Your body is not broken.
You are not lacking willpower.
You are not doing anything wrong.

Medication can change how your body functions. And with the right support, many people find they can feel more balanced, more in control, and more like themselves again—without giving up the care they need.

A Gentle Path Forward

If this topic resonates with you, take it as a sign to approach your health with more kindness, not more pressure. Supporting your body doesn’t mean fighting it—it means listening to it.

And if weight gain from medication has been weighing on you emotionally, please remember: you’re not alone, and there are options to help you feel stronger, calmer, and more confident again—one gentle step at a time.