Weight gain associated with use of psychotropic medications

Weight gain is associated with the use of many psychotropic medications, in cluding lithium, valproic acid, and several conventional and newer antipsyc hotics. Patients asked to select from among several comparable drugs often choose the one least likely to cause weight gain, even if the drug is less effective or has other troublesome adverse effects. For many patients, weig ht gain is so intolerable that they discontinue treatment. Patients who con tinue treatment are at risk for clinically significant weight gain that can progress to obesity, Even after patients stop taking the drug, weight gain ed during therapy may be difficult to lose. Thus, the best approach is to a ttempt to prevent weight gain when feasible, possibly through pretreatment dietary counseling and judicious drug selection, and to intervene as soon a s weight gain becomes evident.