Each time I go into a cluster and start Verapamil I blow up into a balloon.  No matter how much excersise I get, I don't lose an ounce.  I work for Weight Watchers so I am eating healthy.  After I go off the meds I go right back down to my weight.  Anyone else experience weight gain while on this med???

No weight gain here. 

The weight you may be gaining could be water retention Cut your salt intake!  If that doesn't help check with your doc (which you may want to do anyway.)

Did not blow up on Verapamil, but DEFINETLY on Depakote.  I am having trouble losing what I gained, but a lot of that has to do with being off work.  Everyone reacts differently, though.

I've been on Verapamil since April and have gained weight, but I think that has more to do with lack of activity. When I do anything strenuous I get a massive CH. When I was on Depakote, it was like a major switch flipped that made me constantly hungry...glad to be off of that. -Chris

If anything I've lost weight on verapamil, mainly as it does a pretty good job as a preventive so I can be more active. What did make me gain weight like mad was prednisione. I seemed to be constantly hungry until I finished the taper dose when my appetite returned to normal.

Thanks for all your replies!  I did gain more on Depakote and Predisone too.  I know I am less active too being tired and having low blood pressure makes me dizzy!  I do feel a massive headache coming on too when I do something to strenuous.  Its not a lot of weight but enough for me.  Like 5-10 pounds depending on the length of time I am on it.  But like I said, I work for Weight Watchers so my weight is important to me and have to weigh in every month.  Thanks again!

me too not weight gain here in various treatments i ve done including verap in combination


Quote:

The weight you may be gaining could be water retention Cut your salt intake!  If that doesn't help check with your doc (which you may want to do anyway.)

i am pretty sure this is what happens on corticosteroids(medrol) i ve used but this happens on verap too?

Yes Black, it is one of the side affects of Verapamil, Neuro discussed this with me and told me to cut my salt intake as well.

good to know.
thanks.

After trying over 35 different meds for ch I slowly gained over 100 pounds as a side effect.  Now I am on two meds that cause weight gain and I am on those perminently.  So I dont know if I can reduce the weight or not it has been a long road to put it there and i have done nothing about it for a long time.  I plan on seeing a nutritionist in the future about seeing  if he can help me loose weight again.  I sure hope so.  Depressed.

Karla wrote on Nov 8^th, 2010 at 4:16pm:

After trying over 35 different meds for ch I slowly gained over 100 pounds as a side effect.  Now I am on two meds that cause weight gain and I am on those perminently.  So I dont know if I can reduce the weight or not it has been a long road to put it there and i have done nothing about it for a long time.  I plan on seeing a nutritionist in the future about seeing  if he can help me loose weight again.  I sure hope so.  Depressed.

Depression and weight gain often go hand in hand.  Please seek help for both, there is no need to needlessly suffer on either count.

Best wishes and  [smiley=hug.gif]

Actually, I've ebbed and flowed depending on what I was taking at the time, but mostly flowed. The only med I actually lost weight taking was topamax. Verapamil...I'm neither gaining nor losing, but holding steady at a weight I'm still not comfortable with. Oh, well....still little pain! Blessings. lance

I have been on a beta blocker for CH for 6weeks. I gained 2 pounds the first 2 weeks, now up 6#'s in 6weeks! Same as you, count my calories (1200-1500/d),TRY to workout (but can only get HR max to 120 before I get a headache). Tapering off and can't wait to get the weight off! Its not water because I take 12.5mg HCTZ every 3rd day for fluid in my inner ear and the diuretic day only changes my weight by a 1 1/2#.  AND too boot, the beta blocker worked the first 3 weeks for CH...felt normal for the first time in 2 years and now the headaches are back and have had a chronic one for 2+weeks.  >:(

I have been on a beta blocker for CH for 6weeks. I gained 2 pounds the first 2 weeks, now up 6#'s in 6weeks! Same as you, count my calories (1200-1500/d),TRY to workout (but can only get HR max to 120 before I get a headache). Tapering off and can't wait to get the weight off! Its not water because I take 12.5mg HCTZ every 3rd day for fluid in my inner ear and the diuretic day only changes my weight by a 1 1/2#.  AND too boot, the beta blocker worked the first 3 weeks for CH...felt normal for the first time in 2 years and now the headaches are back and have had a chronic one for 2+weeks.  >:(

Haha, I feel like I'm pretty qualified to chime in on the verap here.  As I think Brew said, water retention can be the most common reason to gain weight on verapamil.  In fact, I gained so much fluid that I couldn't get my shoes on because of the swelling.

The easiest way to tell if you're having water weight gain is to weigh yourself twice a day... once in the morning and once before bed.  If you find yourself gaining or losing 5+ pounds between weigh-ins in a single day (or overnight), then it's definitely water retention.  Your body simply cannot create fat that quickly.

Drink lots of water and cut back on salt.  By drinking the water, your body knows it has enough fluid and therefore does not retain extra.  On the other hand, if you find your weight trending upward on a weekly basis, you may be gaining fat.  In that case, you will have to cut back on your dietary intake.

I've lost weight on the anti-inflammatory regimen... and it prevents my CH as well...  but it gives me more energy so I do get more physical activity...

Take care,

V/R, Batch

I gained 8 solid pounds when I was put on verapamil. I did a course of both calcium blocker and beta blockers and they have slowed my metabolism to ZERO! I can't budge the weight, and I like you, eat well, count calories. I have tried to jump start my metabolism with exercise, changing type of calories,etc. I had been able to maintain my weight withina couple pounds for years. I know for a fact it was these meds that slowed my metabolism. I even had a metabolic test done (BodPod) that confirmed I have a very low metabolism. I was told if I wanted to lose those pounds in 3 months,I would have to eat 1000cal AND work out. I am a bit p----d off , to say the least because the pounds stay the same and I have to count every bite. And what with the CH's , I don't even drink any more so those calories were long ago eliminated.
Which I could tell you you will drop them fast but , def not in my case and I was the type of dieter that could lose 5 in a couple weeks with discipline.   :-/

Oh..and my doc put me on a diuretic and the weight still won't budge after I pee off the 3 pounds of fluid retention. :(

I am taking it for migraine problem and I have also put on lots of weight in last few months. It really causes unexpected weight gain.

I gained some weight on verapamil, and have not been able to shed it.  Though I also think it may be due to water retention.  I gained much more weight on depakote and also prednisone.  I even gained wait on topomax, even though my neurologist told me that weight loss is common.  I actually was eager at first to get on topomax because of the expected weight loss, but alas, I gained anyway.  I think much of it has to do with my decrease in activity.  I am trying to slowly increase my physical activity.

I gained almost 20lbs on Topirmate (190 to 210).  I've been on Depakote/Verapamil for about 3 weeks and am actually losing weight and am slowly returning to my pre-CH body weight (currently about 200).