Drug-induced weight loss
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Synopsis
Medications associated with weight loss include antibiotics, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, sedatives, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antiretrovirals, anticonvulsants, antifungals, antidiabetics, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and alkylating agents.
Weight loss as an adverse effect from a medication can occur slowly, often over a period of several months. It is important for physicians to monitor their patients closely after initiating treatment with medications placing patients at risk for unintentional weight loss with surveillance office visits, as early recognition is the ideal management strategy. Often through dose adjustments, medication changes, or nutrition consultation, the downstream sequelae of malnutrition can be averted.
Codes
R63.4 – Abnormal weight loss
T50.995A – Adverse effect of other drugs, medicaments and biological substances, initial encounter
SNOMEDCT:
278993004 – Drug-induced
448765001 – Unintentional weight loss
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Last Updated:07/18/2019