Why do certain medications increase you appetite and increase weight gain?

Question

I was on a few medications last year and gained a significant amount of weight even though I didn’t necessarily feel more hungry. What causes this?

Side note: if someone could explain why I get the munchies after smoking weed as well, that would be great.

In: 16

Answer 1

There’s a litany of mechanisms by which medications can cause appetite and weight gain.

One example is that some medications can directly increase the production of ghrelin, your hunger hormone.