Which drugs actually cause weight gain?
“Does this make you gain weight?” is asked of nearly every drug — and answered online with folklore. Here is what each drug’s FDA label actually reports from its trials, grouped by the real direction of the effect.
The useful truth most listicles miss: a real, labeled weight-gain effect belongs to a few classes (gabapentinoids, mirtazapine, some antipsychotics), while most SSRIs report no established weight effect, and bupropion and stimulants can cause weight loss. “No established effect” is an honest answer, not a dodge.
Can cause weight gain
Mixed / dose-related
No established weight effect
Can cause weight loss
Each entry is what that drug’s FDA-approved label reports. General reference information, not medical advice; weight change is individual, and a drug not listed simply may have no weight statement on its label. Do not start or stop a medication to change weight without your prescriber.