Menopause, by definition, is the absence of menstrual periods for 12 consecutive months. The age of onset varies for each woman. Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, abnormal vaginal bleeding, vaginal itching, dryness, and pain, urinary symptoms, weight gain, acne, skin texture changes, and mood changes. Usage Instructions. Are you trying to gain weight? This calculator will help you determine a daily caloric intake for your desired goal. First input your gender, height and weight. We don't know why these drugs cause weight gain, for sure. But most medications that effect your brain do it. What are you on besides the abilify? Well the reason they can cause weight gain is actually two fold, one is because when you suffer depression and mood disorders, you often don't eat as you should, so when the meds help the problem, you get your appetite back and start to eat normally again. I say this because it typically is the Lack of Estrogen that will cause weight gain and not the abundance. On the other hand, since you are also taking progesterone, you may have been out of balance between the two hormones. I was on Paxil for anxiety for about 2 years and gained almost 40 pounds. The Paxil was initially very helpful, however, the weight gain was not something that I was willing to deal with and the drugs effectiveness waned. It is not entirely clear why this medication can cause weight loss. Effexor can often cause loss of appetite, nausea, and diarrhea, which may contribute to a decrease in weight. Venlafaxine, formerly sold as Effexor, is a prescription drug used to treat depression, anxiety, social phobia, and panic disorder. The brand name Effexor has been discontinued in the United. Many people on steroids report increased fat in the abdomen, face, and neck. Even if you can control the steroid-driven weight gain, it’s possible to look heavier because of redistributed fat. Writing in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, a research team from the University of Kansas Medical Center states that many health care providers believe that certain medications used to treat depression cause weight gain while others cause weight loss.