Drugs That Cause Weight Loss

As a parent, it’s your job to worry about your kids. When your oldest went off to college, this was no exception. You hoped they’d be okay on their own. You hoped they made friends and did well in school. You just wanted them to be happy.

Things seemed to be going well, but when they finally returned for summer break, they seemed thinner – and not in a good way.

You were concerned about them. You tried not to be too blunt, asking questions about how they were doing and reminding them you loved them. They brushed you off and you tried to move on when you found the baggy hidden in their room. Were they using drugs? Were there drugs that caused weight loss? Why were they doing this?

There are many stories about substance use that we hear every day. No matter what your unique history is with substance use, Serenity Lane is here to help. As the oldest non-profit rehab facility in the state, we’ve seen it all. We’re well-equipped to help you build a strong foundation for your recovery. Today we’re going to look at drugs that cause weight loss, what that can lead to, and how to know if your weight loss is caused by substance use.

The Dangers of Weight Loss Caused by Drugs

Weight loss isn’t always positive, no matter how some forms of media may try to spin it. When it comes to weight loss that’s related to substance use, it rarely comes from a “healthy” source.

When it comes to substance use, weight loss can be a side effect for a variety of reasons. Some of the common drugs that have this combo include heroin, methamphetamines, and cocaine, though it is not exclusive to just them.

Now let’s take a closer look at some of the ways these drugs can impact a person’s weight.

Does Drug Use Cause Changes in Your Metabolism?

In most cases when it comes to substance use, the effects of the drug don’t directly impact your metabolism. This doesn’t mean, however, that your metabolism can’t be impacted indirectly.

The best example of this is how substance use often affects how a person takes care of themselves. Ways to upkeep the body can become a low priority in some causes of substance use disorders. If you start to regularly eat less, it can change your metabolism as a result.

Can Drug Use Cause a Loss of Appetite?

Appetite loss is a common side effect of different forms of substance use. Whether because a person is too distracted to think about food, or the substance itself causes you to not feel hungry or it might make you feel nauseous. Often, changes in things such as appetite or sleep patterns can be a sign of withdrawal, too, as they’re impacted by the chemical changes going on within the body.

If you notice you’re experiencing a loss of appetite in combination with other symptoms such as restlessness, cramps, agitation, paranoia, disturbed sleep patterns, or headaches, it could be important to speak with a medical professional.

Weight Loss and Mental Health

Many people underestimate the power that a proper diet and sleep schedule can have on your mental health. By diet, we don’t mean a strict regimen, either, but rather a consistent source of food that doesn’t upset your body. Without food and sleep, our body can’t run at its best. This can often negatively affect your mental health, but at the same time, poor diet and poor sleep schedule can be a side effect of mental illnesses, too. It can be a vicious cycle.

Depression and anxiety include a loss of appetite as a common side effect. This can come from feeling too stressed to eat, feeling like you don’t deserve to eat, worrying about having enough food, or maybe that you haven’t earned the ability to eat.

Additionally, if you start experiencing a change in your diet because of drug use, this can negatively affect your mental health, too. Mental illnesses like depression and anxiety are also common side effects of substance use while also potentially being the source of an SUD.

These two potential, vicious cycles are why having support and knowing the signs of mental illness and SUDs can help you break these cycles and get back onto the path you want to be on. No one deserves to face mental health concerns and SUD alone.

Getting Help with Drug Addiction and Mental Health in Oregon

Substance use, mental illness, and their side effects can take their toll on a person. Whether it’s realized all at once, or they knew from the start that doesn’t always mean that it’s easy to make a change. Change can often seem intimidating, and other factors that might have contributed to a person’s substance use could be keeping them from getting the treatment they want. Our team here at Serenity Lane knows this, which is why we work hard to help our community by making treatment accessible and working to lower the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use. We want everyone to be able to access treatment when they want it and to make informed decisions about their health regarding substance use.

If you’re looking for recovery options here in Oregon, Serenity Lane can help. We offer the full continuum of care from inpatient and outpatient, to detox services and even specialty programs for families, healthcare professionals, and more.

The road of recovery can seem winding, and it’s not always an easy, straight line. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t possible. No matter where you are on your journey, Serenity Lane wants to help support you along the way. If you want to get started today or learn more about our addiction treatment options, just give us a call at (800) 543-9905.

FAQs

What is the most common drug for weight loss?

There are drugs that can intentionally or unintentionally cause weight loss. Some of the most common drugs used for weight loss don’t have “weight loss” as their main purpose, but rather an unintentional side effect. One example of this is a diabetes medication that reduces appetite which is being utilized by some to help lose weight.

What is the new drug causing weight loss?

Drugs like heroin, cocaine, and meth can have the side effect of weight loss at times. There are other substances out there, both illicit and prescription, that can have weight loss effects either intentionally or unintentionally.

What anxiety medications cause weight loss?

Benzodiazepines are a common form of anxiety medication. Some of the potential side effects of benzodiazepines include nausea and constipation. These side effects can sometimes cause people to lose weight.