With a growing number of people desperate to gain weight, there’s a new trend of some turning to antihistamines, medications used to treat allergies and cold symptoms. However, this “weight-gain hack” comes with a serious trade-off. Users report unwanted side effects, including increased appetite, drowsiness, dry mouth, and heartburn.
Phiwokazi Bam from Theunissen in the Free State is no stranger to the weight gain struggle, particularly after giving birth. Postpartum depression often left her with sleepless nights and a complete lack of appetite.
With her first child, she was still in school and thought her struggles might be due to being a teenager living under her parents’ roof. However, she experienced the same thing with her second child, which led to significant weight loss.
A well-known journey
“I wouldn’t like what I saw in the mirror. I would have sleepless nights and zero appetite,” says Bam.
She heard from a friend that antihistamines might help with appetite.
“I tried them out, and the results were really good for weight gain but I cannot say the same for the side effects.”
Phiwokazi Bam
“The drowsiness was too much to bear,” she says.
Bam would use antihistamines when she knew she had someone close to help with the child, maybe for a week, and then stop, and try again with time until she fully gained her weight back.
She notes that when she stopped using antihistamines, she would also lose her appetite, which was very frustrating.
What are antihistamines for?
Dr Siyanda Mgangato, who oversees the mobile clinics for the youth health movement #Keready in the Pietermaritzburg region of KwaZulu-Natal, says antihistamines are a group of drugs commonly used to treat allergies. They can also be used to treat stomach problems, such as acid reflux and ulcers.
“These drugs work by blocking the histamine released by your body’s immune system which can be triggered by an allergen.”
Dr Siyanda Mgangato
Mgangato notes that histamine is known to reduce one’s appetite, so antihistamines can counteract this and can result in weight gain. One antihistamine is being used for this purpose for individuals with poor appetites or anorexia, she adds.
“This should be done under the supervision of a doctor to choose the right antihistamine and if it is safe for the person to take an antihistamine for this reason.”
She explains that taking certain drugs with antihistamines can prevent both from working effectively, potentially worsening the conditions being treated. Examples of these medications are antidepressants, stomach ulcer or indigestion medication, and cough and cold remedies that also contain antihistamines. Alcohol should be avoided when taking antihistamines as it can worsen drowsiness.
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What you need to know
Mgangato explains that one study showed an increase in depression and anxiety in some patients after chronic use of certain antihistamines. Long-term use of some antihistamines can also increase your risk of dementia, she adds.
She explains that some of the side effects of using antihistamines include drowsiness, dry mouth and eyes, blurred vision, constipation, headache, tiredness, muscle pain, nausea, and vomiting. For individuals with hypertension, antihistamines can increase your heart rate and result in increased blood pressure.
“These drugs should be used with caution and under the guidance of a doctor in pregnant and breastfeeding women as the fetus or baby can be affected.”
She warns that people with the following conditions should avoid using antihistamines: glaucoma, hypertension, arrhythmias, urinary retention, thyroid disease, and lung problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.
Gain weight the healthy way
Kulani Mtileni, a registered dietitian from Polokwane in Limpopo and the founder of Dietitians24, explains that there are many reasons why someone may want to gain weight, such as being naturally underweight due to genetics or a fast metabolism.
He notes that being underweight may also indicate poor nutrition or underlying health conditions.
Mtileni says eating more nutrient-dense foods and adopting an overall healthy lifestyle, such as ensuring adequate sleep and reducing stress where possible, can help.
“Whatever your reasons are for wanting to gain weight, there are a variety of strategies you can use.”
Registered dietitian Kulani Mtileni
He suggests that weight gain can be achieved by creating a calorie surplus, meaning you consume more calories than your body needs.
For those looking to gain weight slowly and steadily, he recommends aiming for 300 – 500 calories more than you burn each day, as calculated by a calorie calculator.
“If you want to gain weight quickly, try aiming for around 700 – 1 000 calories above your maintenance level.”
He adds, “Keep in mind that calorie calculators only provide estimates. Your needs may vary by several hundred calories per day, give or take.”
Mtileni says you need to opt for more protein, such as meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, legumes, and nuts. He also notes that increasing intake of more energy-dense foods can be beneficial. These include grains like oats and brown rice.
He further notes that getting enough sleep is another way to gain weight healthily. “Good sleep hygiene is very important for muscle growth.”
In addition to protein and grains, tubers like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yams are recommended. He also suggests opting for good oils like avocado oil and extra virgin olive oil.
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